Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine leiomyomata.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the results of the uterine artery embolization (UAE) for the treatment of uterine fibroids. METHODS Twenty-six patients with ultrasonographic diagnosis of uterine leiomyomata were submitted to UAE with polyvinyl alcohol particles. Imaging and clinical follow-up was performed before the procedure, at 3 months, and 1 year after. RESULTS All procedures but one were technically successful. Control of menorrhagia and pelvic pain were reported after UAE by 87.5% and 84.2% of patients, respectively. The initial medium uterine volume was 385 cm(3), after 3 months 255 cm(3) and after 1 year 202 cm(3). The mean uterine volume decrease was 29% after 3 months and 41% after 1 year of follow-up (P<0.001). Clinical and biochemical findings consistent with ovarian failure were observed in three patients (12% of the patients). CONCLUSIONS UAE represents a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of uterine leiomyomata. The procedure appears effective in controlling symptoms and represents an alternative to hysterectomy.