Fibroid volume, location and symptoms in women undergoing uterine artery embolization: does size or position matter?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between MRI-determined uterine fibroid size and their location, and fibroid-related symptoms, including quality of life and sexual function, in women with symptomatic fibroids before uterine artery embolization (UAE).


METHODS
Forty-six women underwent pelvic MRI within four weeks prior to UAE. The MRIs were analyzed and fibroid size and fibroid location were recorded. Women also completed a comprehensive self-report questionnaire within the four weeks prior to the procedure. The questionnaire (Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), respectively, investigated the frequency of fibroid-related symptoms, as well as quality of life and sexual function. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships among variables, and ANOVAs were used to determine between-group difference.


RESULTS
At baseline, women with symptomatic fibroids had worse quality of life and sexual function scores than healthy controls (p < .05). No fibroid-related symptoms, or aspects of quality of life or sexual function, were significantly correlated with either total uterine volume or largest fibroid volume. No significant differences with respect to fibroid-related symptoms were found between patients with or without subserosal or submucosal fibroids.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with symptomatic fibroids pre-UAE had impaired quality of life and sexual function, but size and location of fibroids as determined by MRI were not related to fibroid-related symptoms, health-related quality of life, or sexual function.
Arleo
Elizabeth Kagan
EK
Department of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Masheb
Robin M
RM
Pollak
Jeffrey
J
McCarthy
Shirley
S
Tal
Michael G
MG
D001158:Arteries; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*; D016387:Women's Health