Tadashi Shimizu MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Noriko Nishioka MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Daisuke Abo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yusuke Sakuhara MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To demonstrate characteristics of MR images of uterine fibroids during and after cryoablation .

Symptomatic uterine fibroids were ablated percutaneously using a MR compatible high-pressure argon-based cryoablation system under open MR imaging guidance. Follow up T1-weighted, T2-weighted and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1-weighted MR images were taken over at one day, two week, and six week intervals in 6 patients and in 4 weeks in one patient.

Eight fibroids in 7 patients were treated. Six fibroids were intramural and two were submucosal. The maximum diameters of the fibroids ranged from 3.4 to 9.5 cm and the mean was 7.4 cm. The maximum diameters of the frozen area ranged from 4.8 to 8.5 cm and the mean was 6.6 cm. The average freezing time was 18.9 min. In five patients of intramural fibroids, the non-contrast enhanced areas in Gd-DTPA enhanced T1-weighted images after cryoablation were larger than the frozen area. In two cases of submucosal fibroids, normal myometrium around the fibroids were frozen and the signal intensity of the MR images returned to normal in six weeks.

MR images after cryoablation indicate the necrotic area is larger than the frozen area in the uterine fibroid and we can expect spontaneous recovery of normal myometrium in the frozen area.

MR images show ablation zone in the uterine fibroid is larger than frozen area after cryoablation and signal intensity of frozen normal structure of the uterus recovers in 6 weeks.

Shimizu, T, Nishioka, N, Abo, D, Sakuhara, Y, MR Image Characteristics during and after Cryoablation of Uterine Fibroids.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13026389.html