The two best radiology studies for evaluating the uterus for fibroids are Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Ultrasound is less expensive and more accessible to people outside large urban areas.  MRI is superior to ultrasound at depicting characteristics of individual fibroids and the response of each fibroid to UFE. MRI allows depiction of adenomyosis, a disease that can mimic fibroids. 

Either study is acceptable prior to and following UFE. Occasionally a patient may need both if the initial study is ambiguous.

On this page you will find examples of MRI of the uterus. Examples of uterine ultrasound are found on another page.

Here is an example of a patient's fibroid uterus, as demonstrated by MR scan. You are seeing the coronal plane, the same plane used in the diagrams on the basic information page

Now let me point out the fibroids

Now let's superimpose an arteriogram of the left uterine artery over the MRI image to demonstrate the vascular fibroids. Only the left artery is being injected, so the large fibroid in the right side of the uterus is not demonstrated. It was supplied by the right uterine artery.

Here is another patient's fibroid uterus. This is the sagital plane, like looking at a side view. Notice how it squeezes the bladder to the lower front wall of the pelvis and compresses the rectum against the lower spine. This is how fibroids can make you constipated and cause you to have to urinate frequently! 

For more information, please contact me by e-mail or by phone 210.575.4343.  Or visit the Society for Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology's www site and follow the links about UFE.

 

I subscribe to the HONcode principles
of the Health On the Net Foundation

This site was created and is hosted at my personal expense.

This page was last updated on Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Comments about this site webmaster@drjohnthomas.com