HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Abstract Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pelage, J.-P. Articles by Spies, J. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pelage, J.-P. Articles by Spies, J. B.

Uterine Fibroid Tumors: Long-term MR Imaging Outcome after Embolization¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, CG 201, Washington, DC 20007-2197. Received January 21, 2003; revision requested April 11; revision received May 28; accepted July 1. Address correspondence to J.B.S. (e-mail: spiesj@gunet.georgetown.edu).

View larger version (136K): [in a new window]   Figure 1a. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 48-year-old woman with complete infarction of all fibroids. The dominant (ie, largest at baseline) fibroid is marked (*) on each image. (a) MR image obtained before embolization shows numerous moderately enhancing fibroids. (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows nonenhancing fibroids—indicating complete infarction—with reduced volume. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows no fibroid enhancement and continued volume reduction. (d) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows no enhancement or regrowth of the fibroids.

View larger version (147K): [in a new window]   Figure 1b. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 48-year-old woman with complete infarction of all fibroids. The dominant (ie, largest at baseline) fibroid is marked (*) on each image. (a) MR image obtained before embolization shows numerous moderately enhancing fibroids. (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows nonenhancing fibroids—indicating complete infarction—with reduced volume. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows no fibroid enhancement and continued volume reduction. (d) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows no enhancement or regrowth of the fibroids.

View larger version (143K): [in a new window]   Figure 1c. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 48-year-old woman with complete infarction of all fibroids. The dominant (ie, largest at baseline) fibroid is marked (*) on each image. (a) MR image obtained before embolization shows numerous moderately enhancing fibroids. (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows nonenhancing fibroids—indicating complete infarction—with reduced volume. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows no fibroid enhancement and continued volume reduction. (d) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows no enhancement or regrowth of the fibroids.

View larger version (140K): [in a new window]   Figure 1d. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 48-year-old woman with complete infarction of all fibroids. The dominant (ie, largest at baseline) fibroid is marked (*) on each image. (a) MR image obtained before embolization shows numerous moderately enhancing fibroids. (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows nonenhancing fibroids—indicating complete infarction—with reduced volume. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows no fibroid enhancement and continued volume reduction. (d) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows no enhancement or regrowth of the fibroids.

View larger version (163K): [in a new window]   Figure 2a. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 49-year-old woman (patient 3 in Table 3) with incomplete dominant fibroid infarction. (a) Preembolization MR image shows a single enhancing fibroid (*). (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows that the majority of the fibroid tissue is infarcted; the patient’s symptoms resolved. Arrows point to small segments of residual perfused tissue. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows continued volume reduction of the dominant fibroid but regrowth of the residual enhancing tissue (arrows). (d) MR image obtained 2 years after embolization shows the regrowing tissue has coalesced and is now dominating the fibroid (arrow), whereas the overall volume of the fibroid is continuing to decrease. (e) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows the infarcted portion of the fibroid has almost completely disappeared, but the viable tissue is continuing to increase. (f) MR image obtained 4 years after embolization shows continued regrowth of the dominant fibroid and a small new fibroid (arrow).

View larger version (162K): [in a new window]   Figure 2b. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 49-year-old woman (patient 3 in Table 3) with incomplete dominant fibroid infarction. (a) Preembolization MR image shows a single enhancing fibroid (*). (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows that the majority of the fibroid tissue is infarcted; the patient’s symptoms resolved. Arrows point to small segments of residual perfused tissue. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows continued volume reduction of the dominant fibroid but regrowth of the residual enhancing tissue (arrows). (d) MR image obtained 2 years after embolization shows the regrowing tissue has coalesced and is now dominating the fibroid (arrow), whereas the overall volume of the fibroid is continuing to decrease. (e) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows the infarcted portion of the fibroid has almost completely disappeared, but the viable tissue is continuing to increase. (f) MR image obtained 4 years after embolization shows continued regrowth of the dominant fibroid and a small new fibroid (arrow).

View larger version (170K): [in a new window]   Figure 2c. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 49-year-old woman (patient 3 in Table 3) with incomplete dominant fibroid infarction. (a) Preembolization MR image shows a single enhancing fibroid (*). (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows that the majority of the fibroid tissue is infarcted; the patient’s symptoms resolved. Arrows point to small segments of residual perfused tissue. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows continued volume reduction of the dominant fibroid but regrowth of the residual enhancing tissue (arrows). (d) MR image obtained 2 years after embolization shows the regrowing tissue has coalesced and is now dominating the fibroid (arrow), whereas the overall volume of the fibroid is continuing to decrease. (e) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows the infarcted portion of the fibroid has almost completely disappeared, but the viable tissue is continuing to increase. (f) MR image obtained 4 years after embolization shows continued regrowth of the dominant fibroid and a small new fibroid (arrow).

View larger version (155K): [in a new window]   Figure 2d. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 49-year-old woman (patient 3 in Table 3) with incomplete dominant fibroid infarction. (a) Preembolization MR image shows a single enhancing fibroid (*). (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows that the majority of the fibroid tissue is infarcted; the patient’s symptoms resolved. Arrows point to small segments of residual perfused tissue. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows continued volume reduction of the dominant fibroid but regrowth of the residual enhancing tissue (arrows). (d) MR image obtained 2 years after embolization shows the regrowing tissue has coalesced and is now dominating the fibroid (arrow), whereas the overall volume of the fibroid is continuing to decrease. (e) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows the infarcted portion of the fibroid has almost completely disappeared, but the viable tissue is continuing to increase. (f) MR image obtained 4 years after embolization shows continued regrowth of the dominant fibroid and a small new fibroid (arrow).

View larger version (155K): [in a new window]   Figure 2e. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 49-year-old woman (patient 3 in Table 3) with incomplete dominant fibroid infarction. (a) Preembolization MR image shows a single enhancing fibroid (*). (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows that the majority of the fibroid tissue is infarcted; the patient’s symptoms resolved. Arrows point to small segments of residual perfused tissue. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows continued volume reduction of the dominant fibroid but regrowth of the residual enhancing tissue (arrows). (d) MR image obtained 2 years after embolization shows the regrowing tissue has coalesced and is now dominating the fibroid (arrow), whereas the overall volume of the fibroid is continuing to decrease. (e) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows the infarcted portion of the fibroid has almost completely disappeared, but the viable tissue is continuing to increase. (f) MR image obtained 4 years after embolization shows continued regrowth of the dominant fibroid and a small new fibroid (arrow).

View larger version (139K): [in a new window]   Figure 2f. Sagittal T1-weighted contrast-enhanced gradient-echo MR images (150/4.1) obtained in 49-year-old woman (patient 3 in Table 3) with incomplete dominant fibroid infarction. (a) Preembolization MR image shows a single enhancing fibroid (*). (b) MR image obtained 3 months after embolization shows that the majority of the fibroid tissue is infarcted; the patient’s symptoms resolved. Arrows point to small segments of residual perfused tissue. (c) MR image obtained 1 year after embolization shows continued volume reduction of the dominant fibroid but regrowth of the residual enhancing tissue (arrows). (d) MR image obtained 2 years after embolization shows the regrowing tissue has coalesced and is now dominating the fibroid (arrow), whereas the overall volume of the fibroid is continuing to decrease. (e) MR image obtained 3 years after embolization shows the infarcted portion of the fibroid has almost completely disappeared, but the viable tissue is continuing to increase. (f) MR image obtained 4 years after embolization shows continued regrowth of the dominant fibroid and a small new fibroid (arrow).