Comparison of MRI outcomes of uterine artery embolization for uterine leiomyoma using tris-acryl gelatin microspheres, polyvinyl alcohol spheres, and polyvinyl alcohol particles.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of recurrence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enhancement of uterine fibroids treated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) among embolic agents: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), spherical PVA (SPVA), and tris-acryl gelatin microspheres (GM).


METHODS
Pre/post-UAE gadolinium-enhanced MRIs were evaluated for residual enhancement of fibroids after UAE. Data were analyzed using 2-tail Fisher exact test to determine the likelihood of recurrence of enhancement post-UAE among embolic agents.


RESULTS
One hundred one women underwent UAE. A total of 24 (41%) of 59 embolized with PVA, 18 (75%) of 24 with SPVA, and 4 (22%) of 18 with GM showed residual enhancement in some or all fibroids. Statistically significant differences in presence of residual enhancement on follow-up were found between SPVA and PVA (P = 0.0072), and SPVA and GM (P = 0.0015), but not between PVA and GM (P = 0.1756).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients embolized with SPVA have a higher risk of having residual enhancement on follow-up MRI than those embolized with PVA or GM.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Jorge.Galvez@yale.edu
Jorge A
JA
Galvez
Shirley
S
McCarthy
Jeffrey
J
Weinreb
Daniel
D
Zelterman
Robert I
RI
White
Jeffrey
J
Pollak
Michael G
MG
Tal
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply
D000180:Acrylic Resins; C496735:trisacryl gelatin microspheres; D005780:Gelatin; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol