Visualization of utero-ovarian anastomoses: Comparison between patients with and without uterine fibroid

Purpose: To retrospectively review uteroovarian anastomosis (UOA) visualization during uterine artery embolization (UAE) in patients with or without uterine fibroids (UFs). Material and Methods: 43 patients underwent UAE for uterine fibroids (n = 23) and gynecological hemorrhage (n = 20). The frequency of angiographic visualization of UOAs was compared between the two groups and analyzed by the Fisher’s exact test. Results: Except for one patient with no right uterine artery, 85 uterine arteries were evaluated. Of these 85 uterine arteries, 23 UOA were recognized: 14 UOAs (58%) (right: 5 [21.7%], left: 9 [37.5%]) were visualized in 23 patients with UFs, and 9 UOAs (47.4%) (right: 4 [21%], left: 5 [26.3%]) were visualized in 20 patients with gynecological hemorrhage. In both groups, UOA was observed after UAE in one patient. Statistically significant difference was not observed for UOAs visualized between patients with or without UFs except a group of left UAE in patients with UFs (P = 0.036). Conclusion: The frequency of UOAs visualized during angiography was similar between patients with or without UFs. Therefore, UOA should be visualized carefully during UAE in patients with gynecological hemorrhage.