title: Effects of embolic agents with different particle sizes on interventional treatment of uterine fibroids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of embolic agents with different particle sizes on interventional treatment of uterine fibroids (UFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and thirty patients with UFs were divided into a treatment group and a control group (n=65) by random draw. All patients were treated by uterine artery embolization, with the treatment group using 200 μm polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles and the control group using 500 μm PVA particles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success rate of embolization was 100%. After intervention, the treatment group was significantly less prone to complications such as lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting and bleeding than the control group (P<0.05). The follicle-stimulating hormone levels of both groups were similar before and after intervention, and there were also no significant inter-group differences. The uterine and UF volumes of both groups significantly decreased six months after intervention (P<0.05), and those of the treatment group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The two groups had similar physical function, role-physical, bodily pain and general health scores before intervention, but the treatment group scored significantly higher than the control group did six months after intervention (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventional embolization can well treat UFs, without apparently affecting ovarian functions. Small-sized PVA particles can improve the quality of life by shrinking the uterus and UFs as well as by reducing the risks of complications.
authors: Xigong Wang, Department of Cancer Intervention, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao 266042, China.
authors: Xigong
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Zhengfu Zhang, Department of Radiology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao 266042, China.
authors: Zhengfu
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Jirong Pan, Department of B Ultrasonic Room, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors: Jirong
authors: J
authors: Pan
authors: Weizhong Zhang, Department of Interventional Radiology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors: Weizhong
authors: W
authors: Zhang
keywords: Embolic agent; Ovarian function; Particle size; Quality of life; Uterine fibroid