Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, NY, have established that there's a possibility of a safe, non-invasive and effective treatment of uterine fibroids by using 3T MR-guided focused ultrasound.

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors, which grow from the muscle layers of the uterus. Uterine fibroids often do not require treatment, but when they are problematic, they may be treated surgically or with medication.

"Approximately 25 percent of women in the United States have clinically symptomatic fibroids, and treatment has most commonly been surgical with hysterectomy or myomectomy. However, in the past decade, new options have been developed in radiology, includingnon-invasive MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) and minimally invasive uterine artery embolization (UAE) to treat these patients," said Elizabeth K. Arleo, MD, lead author of the study.

For the study, the researchers examined 20 patients having symptomatic leiomyomas and who were treated with 3T MRgFUS. These patients underwent a pelvic MRI and completed a symptom severity score (SSS) of the uterine fibroid symptom and health related quality of life prior to the procedure and at 6 and 12 months after the procedure.

The study revealed that, after a 6 month follow-up, there was a decrease in SSS(ranging between 10-59 percent), treated fibroid volume, and total uterine volume. On the other hand, at 12 month follow-up, there was a persistent decrease in SSS (ranging between 15-62 percent), treated myoma volume, and total uterine volume.

"In contrast to having major abdominal surgery with possible removal of their uterus, a patient can have a safe and effective, totally noninvasive procedure in an outpatient setting without the risks of general anesthesia, no ionizing radiation and a much shorter recovery period. Patients have returned to work as early as one day after MRgFUS, instead of approximately three days after UAE or six weeks after a myomectomy or hysterectomy," said Dr. Arleo.