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MRI-guided ultrasound surgery significantly improved symptoms of uterine leiomyomas, according to the results of a new study of 160 women. MRI-guided ultrasound surgery significantly improved symptoms of uterine leiomyomas, according to the results of a new study of 160 women.

"There is a non-invasive option available for treatment of uterine fibroids, which offers patients significant symptom reduction to at least one year," Dr. Fiona M. Fennessy from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, told Reuters Health.

Dr. Fennessy and associates assessed patient responses after 12 months to MRI-guided focused ultrasound in the treatment of uterine leiomyomas in 160 women randomized to two different treatment protocols.

The modified treatment protocol allowed greater fibroid volumes to be treated and increased the maximum treatment time, as well as allowing retreatment within 14 days if necessary, the investigators report in the June issue of Radiology.

Fewer patients treated with the modified treatment protocol sought alternative treatment at six or 12 months, compared with patients treated with the original treatment protocol, the authors report.

Overall, nearly 80 per cent of patients had a ten-point or greater improvement in symptom scores at three months after treatment, which was sustained at six months in 79.2 per cent of patients and at 12 months in 78 per cent of patients, the results indicate.

More patients treated with the modified protocol also achieved greater than ten-point improvements in symptom scores at six months (88 per cent) and 12 months (91 per cent), compared with patients treated with the original protocol (74 and 73 per cent at six and 12 months, respectively), the researchers note.

Quality of life scores also improved significantly after both treatments, the report indicates.

Symptom improvement was more likely with increased nonperfused treatment volumes, the results indicate, and nonperfused volumes were significantly greater after treatment with the modified protocol.

"We could increase the nonperfused volumes by making the treatment guidelines even less restrictive, or by using enhanced sonications where a greater area of nonperfused volumes would be achieved per sonication," Dr. Fennessy explained. "However, enhanced sonications are not currently FDA-approved."

Adverse events were reported more commonly in the original treatment group, the investigators say, but there were no serious adverse events.

"Under current expanded guidelines, fewer patients opted for an alternative treatment and there were fewer adverse events experienced," Dr. Fennessy concluded. "This is an ongoing study, and patients continue to be followed up.