Embolization of Uterine Leiomyoma Is an Effective Long-Term Treatment

Embolization of uterine fibroids is now an accepted alternative to hysterectomy, but how effective is it in the long term? Italian investigators prospectively followed 176 consecutive women (median age, 43.5; median follow-up, 48 months [range, 12–84 months]) undergoing embolization of leiomyomas; the analysis was designed to identify correlations between clinical failure (defined as persistence or recurrence of symptoms) and various baseline patient characteristics.

Treatment failures occurred in 18 women at a median of 36 months, and the cumulative failure rate after 7 years was 18%. During the same period, a second intervention was required in a cumulative total of 15% of patients. After controlling for confounding factors, only age ≤40 a…