2003 Volume 34 Issue 4 Pages 351-359
Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a new treatment for uterine leiomyomas by a catheterization and embolization of the bilateral uterine arteries.
We analyzed 135 consecutive patients who underwent UAE. Percent reduction in entire volume of the uterine after UAE was 37% and 39% after 6 months and one year, respectively. Percent reduction in the leiomyoma volume after UAE was 52% and 54% after 6 months and one year, respectively. Most patients got improvement in symptoms until 3 months after UAE. Heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea were improved in 84.7% and 62.5% of the patients, respectively.
Four cases with submucosal myomas and intramural myomas adjacent to the endometrium had shoughing of degenerative, infected myomas, requiring removal of all the degenerative myomas by either curretage or trance cervical resection.
UAE is an effective therapy for uterine leiomyoma with few complications, having the possibility to be alternative to myomectomy and hysterectomy.