Study: Factors Found to Predict Successful Outcomes for Uterine Fibroid Treatment

Researchers have found the factors that predict treatment outcomes of patients who undergo ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation for uterine fibroids.

Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the potential predictors of a nonperfused volume ratio (NPVR) of at least 80%.

“NPVR was the gold standard for evaluating the efficiency of HIFU ablation, and a NPVR of at least 80% was considered sufficient ablation, while partial ablation was defined as having an NPVR of [less than] 80%,” the researchers wrote.

Results showed that 758 fibroids had obtained sufficient ablation (75.8%) and 242 fibroids had obtained partial ablation (24.2%). The median NPVR was 88.3%.

Overall, participants were most likely to achieve an NPVR of less than 80% if their fibroids showed hypointense on a T2-weighted image, if their fibroids showed a slight enhancement on a T1-weighted image, and if their uterine anteroposterior measured 130 mm. Moreover, participants with higher platelet counts were also more likely to achieve an NPVR of at least 80%.

“In predicting NPVR ≥ 80%, the signal intensity on [a T2 weighted image] was the most important factor affecting ablative efficiency, followed by enhancement type on [a T1 weighted image], uterine anteroposterior, and platelet count,” the researchers concluded.

—Amanda Balbi

Reference

Yang MJ, Yu RQ, Chen WZ, Chen JY, Wang ZB. A prediction of NPVR ≥ 80% of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for uterine fibroids. Front Surg. 2021;8:663128. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2021.663128