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Uterine fibroid embolization efficacy and safety: 15 years experience in an elevated turnout rate center

  • VASCULAR AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
  • Published:
La radiologia medica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate effectiveness and safety of UFE as alternative to surgery, in treatment of uterine fibromatosis.

Methods/materials

255 patients (aged 26–55) with symptomatic UF, indication for surgery, followed in our center (2000–2014), single or multiple fibroids, pain and/or functional/compressive disorders, underwent embolization: injection of PVA particles (150–900 μm) from distal portion of uterine arteries (ascending section). Primary end-point: flow-stop distally to injection site, disappearance of lesion design, preservation of flow in main trunk of UA. Secondary end-point: control of pain and functional/compressive disorders during follow-up (2–7 years).

Results

Procedure was performed bilaterally in 250 patients (98%). Mean duration: 47 min (average fluoroscopy: 10:50 min). Post-embolization pelvic pain (according with VAS score) was on average 2.2 at discharge (24 h). Follow-up at 2 years: resolution of menstrual disorders in 78% of patients and improvement in 14%; pain disappeared in 66%; significant improvement of menstrual flow and HCT/HB levels, decrease in total uterine (57.7%)/dominant fibroid (76.1%) volume. Recurrence in 18 patients.

Conclusions

UFE represents an excellent alternative to surgical treatment: it is safe, tolerable and effective both in short and long term, with evident advantages in economic and social terms.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

HR:

Hazard ratio

HRT:

Hormone replacement therapy

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

NSAID:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

PVA:

Polyvinyl alcohol

SD:

Standard deviation

UFE:

Uterine fibroid embolization

VAS:

Visual analogue scale

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Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interventional Radiology, Department of Bioimaging, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Carmine Di Stasi, Alessandro Cina, Francesco Rosella & Andrea Paladini

  2. Gynecology, Department of Women Health, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Sonia Amoroso & Daniela Romualdi

  3. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Bioimaging, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Riccardo Manfredi

  4. Department of Bioimaging, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Cesare Colosimo

Authors
  1. Carmine Di Stasi
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  2. Alessandro Cina
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  3. Francesco Rosella
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  4. Andrea Paladini
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  5. Sonia Amoroso
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  6. Daniela Romualdi
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  7. Riccardo Manfredi
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  8. Cesare Colosimo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Rosella.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Alessandro Cina, MD.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

One of the authors has significant statistical expertise. The study is on human subjects.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was not required by the Institutional Review Board for this study because it is a retrospective study.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was not required because is a retrospective study.

Methodology

Retrospective, observational, performed at one institution.

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Di Stasi, C., Cina, A., Rosella, F. et al. Uterine fibroid embolization efficacy and safety: 15 years experience in an elevated turnout rate center. Radiol med 123, 385–397 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-017-0843-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-017-0843-6

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