title: MR-guided focus ultrasound (MRgFUS) for symptomatic uterine fibroids: predictors of treatment success.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  What are the factors associated with long-term success in patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids treated by magnetic resonance-guided focus ultrasound (MRgFUS) and can they be employed to create a clinically useful index that predicts long-term efficacy?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypo-intense fibroids on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and older age were associated with higher success rates and can be used to predict success rates on the basis of their presence or absence as pre-treatment parameters.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The signal intensity of baseline T2-weighted MRI images and non-perfused volume at the end of the treatment can be correlated with MRgFUS outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective analysis of 81 patients who were treated by MRgFUS for symptomatic uterine fibroids, in an academic affiliated center between 2003 and 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  There was a post-treatment phone interview >6 months following MRgFUS for symptomatic uterine fibroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The eighty-one patients completed a successful MRgFUS treatment during this period, of whom 74 were included in the final analysis (1 was post-menopausal at treatment and 5 were lost for follow-up). The mean time for the phone interview was 33.0 ± 15.1 months (range: 6-53 months) after the MRgFUS treatment. Fifty-five patients (69%) did not need any additional alternative treatment following MRgFUS. Nineteen patients (24%) underwent other surgical interventions. Hypo-intense fibroids were associated with a higher chance of success than hyper-intense fibroids [odds ratio = 2.96 (1.01-8.71); P = 0.04] for surgery in hyper-intense fibroids). Women with long-term treatment success were significantly older at the time of treatment [46.3 ± 3.8 (range: 37-53) years versus 43.6 ± 4.4 (range: 36-51) years, respectively; P = 0.02].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retrospective non-comparative studies are suboptimal and might overemphasize favorable outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper can contribute to selection of suitable candidates for the MRgFUS treatment for patients with uterine fibroids' and can serve as a guide for gynecologists for a better patient selection.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  N/A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,  Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine,  Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer,  Israel.
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Machtinger
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inbar
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohen-Eylon
authors.forename: Dahlia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Admon
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alagem-Mizrachi
authors.forename: Jaron
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rabinovici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*