Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Microwave Ablation for Symptomatic Intramural Fibroids: Mid-Term and Long-Term Follow Up in Disease-Specific Symptoms and Quality of Life

Objective: To evaluate the mid-term and long-term clinical effectsof ultrasound-guidance percutaneous microwave ablation (USGPMA) fortreatment of symptomatic intramural uterine fibroids in terms of durability of symptom control and level of health-related quality of life.

 

Methods: onehundred andSeventy-eight consecutive symptomaticuterine fibroidspatients with type2-5 intramural uterine fibroids(according to the FIGO classification)wererecruitedthe study.The patients agewas29to50years (mean41.1±4.6). The mean diameter of fibroid (length + width + height/3) was 6.6cm (4.2 ~ 8.0 cm).Under US guidance one or two cooled-shaft needle microwave antennae werepercutaneously inserted into thetumorfor ablation.Thefibroid volume(FV)was calculatedbased on theultrasoundmeasurement.Improvements in fibroid symptoms and quality of life were assessedby the uterine fibroid symptoms and health-relatedquality of Life Questionnaire(UFS-QOL) at baseline, 1, 2, 3 and 4 yearsfollow-up.The frequency of adverse events was recorded in and after ablation. ResultsAtone year after treatmentthe FV shrunk from 159.6 ±109.3 cm3 to 35.0±25.7 cm3(p<0.05) andmean Symptom Severity Scores (SSS) decreased from 40.7±12.2 to 19.8±10.9(p<0.05), the total Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) score increased from 57.8±18.4 to 88.7±16(p<0.05) . All ofaboveparametersstayednearlyat the same levelin the periodof follow up of 4 years.Noany serious complications occurredinthe ablation and in theperiod of follow up. Sevenpatientsconceivedforninetimes. Two patients givenbirth two healthy babiesby caesareansection,fourpatientsunderwent abortionand one miscarriage.