Albert Einstein Healthcare Network is committed to providing patients with the latest and best treatment options for a variety
of health issues. Following are several alternatives a woman may consider if she experiences ongoing symptoms from fibroid
tumors.
Pain management
Simply managing pain with medication may be acceptable for some women, particularly if they are premenopausal. Once menopause
occurs, the reduction in the hormone estrogen causes the tumor to shrink.
Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)
Also called uterine artery embolization, UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist using a fluoroscope on a patient
under a local anesthetic. While viewing the pelvic region during the fluoroscopy, the physician injects a solution into the
artery, which cuts off the tumor’s blood supply. This causes the tumor to shrink gradually over the weeks and months following
the procedure. UFE can usually be performed on an outpatient basis and requires only a minimal recovery period (7 to 10 days).
UFE has gained momentum in recent years as a treatment option of choice for women with symptomatic fibroids. Not only is it
minimally invasive, but it is also an attractive alternative for women who wish to have children since it spares the reproductive
organs. In a very small number of cases, the ovaries may fail following UFE; however, studies have not proven that this is
a significant risk.
Typically, a gynecologist refers patients with fibroids to an interventional radiologist who performs UFE. Radiologists Paul
Brady, MD, and Tun Htaik, MD, perform UFE at Albert Einstein Medical Center.
Laparoscopic surgery
Both
hysterectomy and
myomectomy can often be performed laparoscopically.
Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than traditional surgery since it requires much smaller incisions. Often this means shorter recovery times
with less pain and fewer complications.
Glossary Terms:
Fluoroscopy– An x-ray test that uses a continuous beam of x-rays to show movement in the body. Pictures are displayed on a monitor similar
to a TV screen.
Hysterectomy– The surgical removal of the uterus and, possibly, the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Laparoscopic surgery– A laparoscope is a thin, hollow tube with a light and magnifying lens on one end. During laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon
makes a small incision (cut) and inserts the laparoscope into the body so he or she can view the internal organs. The surgeon
then uses surgical instruments to perform the necessary procedure through the same or other small incisions.
Local anesthetic– An anesthetic that numbs one area of the body, leaving the patient conscious.
Myomectomy– The surgical removal of fibroid tumors.
