Patient Suitability

Most women with problematic fibroids are suitable despite number, size or position.

Despite the vast amount of data on UFE many patients are told they are unsuitable for the procedure because:

They have multiple fibroids
They have only one
Their fibroids are too big
Their fibroid is pedunculated or extending outside of the womb on a stalk.

All these statements are wrong

Most women with problematic fibroids are suitable despite number, size or position.

References

Watson GM, Walker WJ. Uterine artery embolisation for the treatment of symptomatic fibroids in 114 women; reduction in size of the fibroids and women’s views of the success of the treatment. BJOG 2002 Feb; 109(2):129-35

Smeets AJ, Nijenhuis RJ van Rooij WJ, Weimar EA, Boekkooi PF, Lampmann EL, Vervest HA, Lohl PN. Uterine artery embolisation in patients with a large fibroid burden: long term clinical and MR follow-up. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2010 Oct;33(5);943-8. Epub 2010 Jan 12

Parthipun AA, Taylor J, Manyonda I, Belli AM. Does size really matter? Analysis of the effect of large fibroids and uterine volumes on complication rates of uterine artery embolisation. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2010 Oct;33(5):955-9. Epub 2010 May 5

Which Radiologists should Perform Uterine Fibroid Embolisation?

Uterine fibroid embolisation is a complex procedure with a significant learning curve requiring not only a skilled Interventional Radiologist but one who has performed many UFE procedures. You should ask your interventional radiologist how many fibroid embolisations (as opposed to other types of embolisation) he has performed.