Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids and offers an alternative to conventional myomectomy and hysterectomy. This review focuses on recent publications evaluating UFE and concludes that it is a safe treatment option, providing substantial improvement in both health-related quality of life and symptom control for most patients, with a very low rate of major complications. The durability of these outcomes appears similar to those obtained with myomectomy; however, a direct comparative long-term study is needed. Recent comparative studies have begun to provide more insight in to UFE outcomes compared with outcomes achieved with myomectomy and hysterectomy. UFE should be considered a first line therapy for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. Additional research will continue to provide us with information as to the ideal candidates for UFE and may provide us with better tools to predict patient outcomes. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.