title: Uterine artery embolization for symptomatic fibroids with high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for treating symptomatic fibroids with high signal intensity (SI) on magnetic resonance (MR) T2-weighted imaging (T2WI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 537 cases, consisting of 14 patients with high SI fibroids on T2WI (T2 high group), were retrospectively included and compared with 28 randomly selected patients with low SI fibroids on T2WI (control group). High SI of a predominant fibroid on T2WI was defined as having the same or higher SI than the myometrium. Patient ages ranged from 28 to 52 years (mean, 38.1 years). All patients underwent MRI before and after UAE. Predominant fibroid and uterine volumes were calculated with MR images. Symptom status in terms of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea was scored on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being no symptoms and 10 being the baseline, or initial symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients in the T2 high group, 13 out of 14 (92.9%) patients demonstrated complete necrosis of the predominant fibroids. The mean volume reduction rates of the predominant fibroids in the T2 high group was 61.7% at three months after UAE, which was significantly higher than the volume reduction rates of 42.1% noted in the control group (p < 0.05). Changes in symptom scores for menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea after UAE (baseline score minus follow-up score) were 4.9 and 7.5 in T2 high group and they were 5.0 and 7.7 in control group, suggesting a significant resolution of symptoms (p < 0.01) in both groups but no significant difference between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UAE is effective for uttering fibroids showing high SI on T2WI. The mean volume reduction rate of the predominant fibroids three months after UAE was greater in the T2 high group than in the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
authors.forename: Suyon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Man-Deuk
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myungsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mu Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Park
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; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000628:therapy*; D053783:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; C072417:gadoterate meglumine