title: Uterine artery embolization for symptomatic fibroids in postmenopausal women.
abstract: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic fibroids in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  
  Among 900 cases who underwent UAE between 2007 and 2013, a total of 9 postmenopausal women with symptomatic fibroids (n=6) and fibroid with adenomyosis (n=3) were included in this retrospective study. Ages ranged from 49 to 55years (median of 52). The embolic agent was nonspherical polyvinyl alcohol particles. We evaluated 18 uterine arteries in nine patients and compared the size of the uterine artery relative to inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) in preprocedural magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before and 3months after UAE. Predominant fibroid and uterine volumes were calculated from MR images.
  
  
  
  Urinary frequency was the most common symptom, observed in seven patients (77.8%). Of two patients (22.2%) with vaginal bleeding from submucosal myomas, one patient had been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). One patient underwent UAE due to growing leiomyoma after HRT. All of the 18 uterine arteries were bigger than the corresponding IMAs in MR angiography. Contrast-enhanced MRI revealed complete necrosis of the predominant fibroid in all patients. Eight (88.9%) of the nine participants demonstrated resolution of symptoms. The mean predominant fibroid and uterine volume reduction rates were 39.7% and 36.9%, respectively.
  
  
  
  In postmenopausal women, UAE was effective to treat symptomatic fibroids, and it could be considered as an alternative treatment to hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Shin Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: mdkim@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Man Deuk
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyoung Min
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Do Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Menopause; Uterine artery embolization; Uterine fibroid