title: Uterine fibroid embolization for symptomatic fibroids: study at a teaching hospital in kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Characterization of magnetic (MRI) features in women undergoing uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and identification of clinical correlates in an African population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with symptomatic fibroids who are selected to undergo UFE at the hospital formed the study population. The baseline MRI features, baseline symptom score, short-term imaging outcome, and mid-term symptom scores were analyzed for interval changes. Assessment of potential associations between short-term imaging features and mid-term symptom scores was also done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UFE resulted in statistically significant reduction (P < 0.001) of dominant fibroid, uterine volumes, and reduction of symptom severity scores, which were 43.7%, 40.1%, and 37.8%, respectively. Also, 59% of respondents had more than 10 fibroids. The predominant location of the dominant fibroid was intramural. No statistically significant association was found between clinical and radiological outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The response of uterine fibroids to embolization in the African population is not different from the findings reported in other studies from the west. The presence of multiple and large fibroids in this study is consistent with the case mix described in other studies of African-American populations. Patient counseling should emphasize the independence of volume reduction and symptom improvement. Though volume changes are of relevance for the radiologist in understanding the evolution of the condition and identifying potential technical treatment failures, it should not be the main basis of evaluation of treatment success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: John Kiprop
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mutai
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vinayak
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stones
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS), UK.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hacking
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariara
keywords: African women; embolization; fibroid; response