title: Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) of uterine fibroids in Singapore.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uterine fibroids are the most common type of gynaecologic benign tumours, occurring in 25% to 50% of women during their reproductive lives. About half of the affected women have clinically significant symptoms, including abnormal bleeding, menstrual pain, frequent urination, constipation and abdominal distension. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) has been used to treat patients with benign lesions and a variety of malignancies. The objective of this study is to evaluate symptom relief before and after MR-guided ultrasound ablation of fibroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 37 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids were treated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRgFUS treatment led to a significant, time-dependent decrease in not only Symptom Severity Scores (SSS), but also the mean fibroid volume. The average reductions in volume were 41.6% and 52.6% at 6 months and 12 months respectively (P <0.05). The mean SSS of the 37 patients was 41.7 ± 2.8 before treatment whereas the average SSS was 26.9 ± 3.6, 20.7 ± 3.4, 18.5 ± 3.6, 16.5 ± 7.1, 9.8 ± 3.6 at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 to 4 years respectively. The decrease in scores was significant at all time points up to 3 to 4 years (P <0.05 and P <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRgFUS is a safe and effective non-invasive treatment for patients with symptomatic fibroids.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Support Services, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Nian-Lin R
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chiou Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012846:Singapore; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*