Reduction by 98% in Uterine Myoma Volume Associated with Significant Symptom Relief After Peripheral Treatment with Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging–guided focused ultrasound surgery is a noninvasive treatment for symptomatic uterine myomas. Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between the treated volume of the myoma, improvement in symptoms, and lesion shrinkage. We report a case in which MRgFUS treatment only at the periphery of the myoma resulted in a 98% reduction in tumor volume at 8 months posttreatment, and at 12-month follow-up, only a small lesion was visible at magnetic resonance imaging. The patient's symptoms, as assessed using the Uterine Fibroids Symptom and Quality of life (UFS-QOL) questionnaire, were substantially improved at both 6 and 12 months posttreatment. We also provide a hypothesis to explain this dramatic reduction in myoma volume after only partial MRgFUS treatment of the lesion.