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Non-Invasive Treatment of Uterine Fibroid Tumors

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form in the muscles of the uterus. Some women experience no symptoms while others have heavy bleeding with menstruation and pain all month long. Most treatments require surgery, but magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is noninvasive.

  1. Procedure

    • MRgFUS involves use of an MRI to obtain images of the uterus and fibroids before and after a series of sonications, or pulses of ultrasound waves that heat the fibroids to induce necrosis (tissue death). The patient is sedated but awake.

    Benefits

    • For many patients MRgFUS is preferable to hysterectomy, the traditional treatment for fibroids. MRgFUS results in fewer days in the hospital, fewer visits to the doctor, much less discomfort and faster recovery.

    Time Frame

    • Each MRgFUS procedure lasts 3 to 4 hours. Large fibroids will likely require multiple sessions.

    Expert Insight

    • A joint study conducted by doctors at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brigham Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School showed that 76 percent of the 55 participants had a positive response to MRgFUS.

    Other Options

    • The other noninvasive option is the use of prescription drugs designed to interrupt the hormones that contribute to the growth of hormones. These medications include gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, androgens and intrauterine devices.

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