Medical Articles
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization - The New Alternative Treatment for Fibroid Sufferers
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As published in Zenith Woman Magazine
September/October 2000 editionLike many women, you may suffer from fibroids in your uterus. Fibroids are non-cancerous masses. Symptoms, when they occur, typically include excessive bleeding during the menstrual cycle and the uncomfortable pain of having an enlarged, “pregnant” uterus, as these masses can become quite large.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a new alternative for women suffering from fibroids who don’t want surgery, such as a myomectomy, and can’t stop work for the typical 4-8 week recovery time of a hysterectomy. The procedure is performed by an Interventional Radiologist with typically an overnight stay in the hospital and a recovery period of 7-10 days.
From a tiny skin nick in the groin, a small tube is placed into the arteries feeding the fibroids, which are then blocked-up (i.e. embolized), with very small sand-like particles. The fibroids then shrink and die while the uterus remains intact. As this occurs, women typically experience “crampy” abdominal pain during the first week which is well treated with pain medicines. Results may be noticeable by the first menstrual cycle after the procedure. According to Sandra, age 52, “I couldn’t believe my first period after the procedure. No more clotting, no more cramping and no heavy bleeding.” Moreover, a story from Eddie, age 48, expressed, “It’s been three years and I am still absolutely free of symptoms. I know even before I go for my check ups that the fibroids have not come back, because my stomach is flat. I thought I would never be free of this and now I am like a new person.”
(http://www.radiologyinfo.org/)
Recent articles have shown that approximately 80-90 % of women have had moderate to complete improvement in their symptoms related to fibroids after the UFE procedure. Also, given the global nature of the treatment, the chance of reoccurrence of symptoms, after a successful treatment, is very low. Interventional Radiologists from Diversified Radiology of Colorado, P.C. can perform this procedure.
If you would like more information regarding UFE, call the Diversified Women’s center at 303-839-7490.
- Pregnancy & Medical Radiation
- Improved Survival in Primary Nonmetastatic Pediatric Osteosarcoma of the Extremity
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CLINICAL ORTHOPAEDICS AND RELATED RESEARCH
Number 438, pp. 128–136 - Pulmonary Embolism studies in pregnant patients
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Radiology 2002
- The Value of Serial Arteriography in Osteosarcoma: Delivery of Chemotherapy, Determination of Therapy Duration, and Prediction of Necrosis
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JVIR
Volume 16 Number 8, August 2005 - UnitedHealth and I.B.M. Test Health Care Plan
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Improved health care through subspecialization…
- U.S. to Compare Medical Treatments
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The stimulus bill will, for the first time, provide substantial financing for the government to compare different treatments for the same illness…