title: Limited efficacy of uterine artery embolization for cervical leiomyomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in treating symptomatic fibroids in the uterine cervix.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 537 patients who underwent UAE, 10 who had fibroids located in the cervix were retrospectively analyzed. The mean diameter of the fibroids was 6.0 cm. Seven of the 10 patients presented a total of 10 fibroids in the uterine body or fundus simultaneously. Fibroids of the cervix and fibroids in the body or fundus were compared in terms of the effects of UAE on the treatment thereof and vascularity on angiographic findings. Cervical leiomyomas were classified into three grades based on the vascularity seen on aortography, from grade I, indicating poor vascularity, to grade III, indicating hypervascularity. Necrosis of fibroids was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging 3 months after UAE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete necrosis of leiomyomas in the uterine cervix was seen in only two of the 10 patients (20%), whereas all fibroids in the uterine body or fundus were completely infarcted (P < .05). Partial necrosis (PN) of the fibroid with a thin viable rim was seen in two patients, whereas PN with a thick rim was seen in four and no necrosis was seen in two. Grade I (ie, poor) vascularity was noted in five of nine patients (55.6%) with cervical fibroids larger than 3 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor vascularity was a frequent finding among cervical leiomyomas, and the outcomes of UAE for cervical leiomyomas were disappointing, indicating a need for caution in selecting and counseling patients for this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 120-752. mdkim@yuhs.ac
authors.forename: Man Deuk
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myungsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae Chul
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mu Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Do Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*