Clinical and technical aspects of MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids

Abstract

Although many women undergo hysterectomy for treatment of uterine fibroids, there are more options than ever before for fibroid treatment. A combination of objective criteria, including clinical parameters, anatomic factors, fibroid characteristics, and patient desires influence the choice of optimal therapeutic modality for a woman with symptomatic uterine fibroids. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is the only noninvasive treatment option for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids unresponsive to medical treatment. The procedure has been shown to be safe and effective. MR-HIFU couples the three-dimensional multiplanar anatomic imaging and thermal monitoring capability of MR imaging with the therapeutic thermal-based coagulative necrosis mechanism of HIFU to safely and effectively ablate limited volume classical fibroids. In the author's experience, a multidisciplinary fibroid clinic facilitates a unified approach between gynecologists, radiologists, and others to individualize the most appropriate fibroid treatment options for each woman. This article describes the MR-HIFU technique and outcomes, as well as patient selection and treatment assessment. © 2013 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.