Clinical outcomes of focused ultrasound surgery for the treatment of uterine fibroids

Fertil Steril. 2006 Jan;85(1):22-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.04.072.

Abstract

Objective: To assess outcomes at 6 and 12 months after magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

Design: Multicenter clinical trial.

Setting: Academic medical centers.

Patient(s): Premenopausal women with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas and no plans for future pregnancy (n = 109 at 6 months and n = 82 at 12 months).

Intervention(s): A single treatment session of MRgFUS for uterine fibroids.

Main outcome measure(s): Reduction in fibroid symptoms as measured by the symptom severity score (SSS) of the Uterine Fibroid Quality-of-Life Instrument (UFS-QOL), the only validated measure of leiomyoma symptomatology. A 10-point reduction in the SSS was selected as the targeted improvement.

Result(s): Seventy-one percent of women undergoing MRgFUS reached the targeted symptom reduction at 6 months, and 51% reached this at 12 months. The magnitude of improvement in SSS was greater than predicted, with subjects having a mean decrease of 39% and 36% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. This paralleled the improvement seen using the short form-36 instrument. A modest volume reduction similar in magnitude to the treated volume was seen. The incidence of adverse events was low.

Conclusion(s): MRgFUS treatment results in short-term symptom reduction for women with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas with an excellent safety profile.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leiomyoma / surgery*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Perimenopause
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Premenopause
  • Quality of Life
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonic Therapy / adverse effects
  • Ultrasonic Therapy / methods*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / surgery*