Zapping Away Uterine Fibroids

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new minimally invasive radiology treatment shows promise in destroying uterine fibroids and relieving symptoms, eliminating the need for a hysterectomy.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy fibroid tissue with precise focusing.

In a study of 119 the treatment improved symptoms in 97 percent of women.  Ninety percent rated their improvement as considerable or excellent.

"Today, women have interventional radiology options that do not involve the use of a scalpel incision," Gina Hesley, M.D., Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was quoted as saying. "Women should ask for a consult with an interventional radiologist who can determine from MR imaging whether they are candidates for either procedure."

Uterine fibroids are common noncancerous growths within the muscular wall of the uterus. Twenty to 40 percent of women age 35 and older have uterine fibroids of a significant size.  African-American women are at a higher risk for fibroids.

The FDA approved MRgFUS for the treatment of uterine fibroids in 2004. Researchers say the procedure is still not widely available and may not be covered by all insurance carriers.

SOURCE: Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting, Tampa, Fla., March 2010