Safety and five-year re-intervention following magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for uterine fibroids

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the safety and re-intervention rates following magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for uterine fibroids at 5 years. To assess how the non-perfused volume (NPV), fibroid signal intensity and use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) affect the re-intervention rates. Study designCohort study of women undergoing MRgFUS for treatment of their uterine fibroids between 2003 and 2010. ResultsOf 280 women undergoing MRgFUS the rate of minor complications was 3.9% and there were 3 serious complications (1.1%) including one skin burn, a fibroid expulsion and one case of persistent neuropathy. The NPVs achieved following MRgFUS have increased as the experience with this treatment has grown. In a 5-year follow-up study of 162 women, the overall re-intervention rate was 58.64%, but in those treatments with greater than 50% NPV the re-intervention rate was 50%. ConclusionMRgFUS treatment of uterine fibroids is a safe treatment for uterine fibroids. The re-intervention rate at 5 years is high, but the improvements in NPVs achieved may further improve the long term results.