A comparative study on the effects of MRI- and CT-guided interventional therapies on uterine fibroids

Objective: To compare the effects of MRI- and CT-guided interventional therapies on uterine fibroids.

Methods: A total of 280 patients with uterine fibroids who were treated in our hospital from August 2008 to February 2014 were selected and divided into a treatment group and a control group by random draw (n=140). The control group and the treatment group were subjected to CT- and MRI-guided interventional therapies for uterine artery embolization.

Results: After three months of treatment, 94.3% and 92.9% of heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pressure of the treatment group were relieved respectively, which were similar to those of the control group (92.9% and 92.1% respectively) (P>0.05). The two groups had similar uterine and fibroid sizes before treatment, which were all significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.05) when the treatment group had significantly smaller uteri and fibroids than the control group did (P<0.05). The serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol levels, arterial resistive indices and endometrial thicknesses of the two groups were similar before treatment, which were significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the values of the two groups became significantly different (P<0.05). The treatment group was also significantly less prone to complications such as fever, vaginal bleeding and hematuria than the control group after treatment (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Interventional therapy, especially that guided by MRI, can be performed accurately and safely by mildly affecting the ovary and by promoting the recovery of uterine artery blood flow and endometrial thickness.