Clinical 24 month experience of the first MRgFUS Unit for treatment of uterine fibroids in Australia

Aim: To describe and evaluate treatment of uterine fibroids using Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) during its first 24 months of use at The Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne. Methods: One hundred Victorian women were treated with MRgFUS using the ExAblate 2000 system. Treatment outcomes based on fibroid volume shrinkage measured at 4 and 12 months post-treatment and symptom severity score assessment (Symptom Severity Score Quality of Life SSS-QOL) pre- and post- (46 weeks, 4, 6 and 12 months) treatment. Results: Mean non-perfused volume of the treated fibroids were 67% +/- 25% (n = 100) immediately post-treatment. At 4 months post-treatment, the treated fibroids demonstrated an average volume reduction of 29% +/- 32% (n = 74) and at 12 months 38% +/- 45% (n = 32). Mean symptom severity scores (SSS-QOL) improved by 51% from 59 +/- 21 (n = 97) at baseline to 29 +/- 17 (n = 36) by 12 months. Conclusion: From our experience, we believe there is a role for MRgFUS in the treatment of uterine fibroids in selected women.