Uterine arterial embolization for the treatment of fibroids:middle and long term follow-up study

Objective To evaluate the middle and long term effects of uterine arterial embolization for the treatment of fibroids. Methods Six hundred and thirty-two patients with uterine fibroids were treated with selective uterine arterial embolization and followed up for 6-48 months. Of them, 546 cases were followed up for 6 months, 395 for 12 months, 247 for 24 months, 45 for 36 months, and 9 for 48 months. Color Doppler, clinical effects, changes of estrogen levels, pregnant rate, and recurrence of fibroids were the contents of follow-up. Results The blood supply to the fibroids was as follows: dominantly from unilateral uterine artery (62.97%), from bilateral uterine arteries (33.70%), and partly from ovarian artery (1.58%), and a single unilateral uterine artery was found in 1.74% of the cases. In the 546 cases who were followed up for 6 months, complete disappearance of the fibroids was noted in 70 cases (12.82%), remarkable reduction volume of the fibroids was seen in 367 (67.21%), moderate reduction in 74 (13.55%), and no definite change in 35 (6.41%). There were 16 pregnant cases, and 9 of them gave normal birth. No recurrent fibroids were noted during the follow-up periods for 6-48 mouths. Conclusion Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of fibroids is safe and effective. This methods are more appropriate for treating submucosal fibroids .