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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Treatment of Uterine Fibroids Goes Ultrasonic

Women with uterine fibroids may no longer have to endure painful surgeries and the long recovery times – and expense – usually associated with them. At a GE Healthcare media event titled "Improving Patient Care Through Early Health," Phyllis Gee, M.D., of the North Texas Uterine Fibroid Institute discussed recently released data showing that magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound – an innovative, noninvasive procedure – is a more effective option for uterine fibroid sufferers.

Between 20 and 40 percent of all women over 35 have uterine fibroids, according to Gee. The tumors, for which there is no known cause, are the reason behind more than 200,000 hysterectomies each year. They are, in fact, the most common noncancerous tumors in women of childbearing age and the second most common reason reproductive women undergo surgery.

Traditional treatment options have included invasive procedures such as hysterectomy, myomectomy (surgically removing fibroids from the uterus) or uterine artery embolization (a minimally invasive means of blocking the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids). Hormonal therapy offers temporary relief of symptoms, but fibroids frequently grow back once therapy has ended.

Gee has helped pioneer the focused ultrasound procedure, a low-risk, noninvasive surgical method that uses high-intensity, focused ultrasonic waves to remove tissue in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which guides and monitors the treatment. The procedure typically takes four hours, with two hours in surgical recovery. And most women are able to return to work and normal activity in just a couple of days. Hysterectomies, on the other hand, take one to two hours under general anesthesia and require a hospital stay. Full recovery takes another four to six weeks.

"These findings further underscore the utility of magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound as a long-lasting, noninvasive option for the millions of women suffering from uterine fibroids," says Dr. Gee. "With these expanded treatment guidelines, we're able to successfully treat more of the tumor and virtually eliminate the need for future hysterectomies."

For more information, visit gehealthcare.com/usen/mr/products/gfus.html.