For Physicians

Uterine leiomyomata are a common cause of significant, and often disabling, symptoms among women. Symptomatic leiomyomata cost the U.S. healthcare system in excess of $2 billion per year in direct costs, and are responsible for the loss of 5-10 million person-days per year of work or other activities, and result in more than 900,000 hospital days per year. Lost productivity due to menorrhagia $1,692/woman/yr. In addition, there are many women who while not hospitalized or forced to stop work, have their activities limited, or their quality of life affected by the condition. Rand Report

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), aka uterine artery embolization (UAE), is a minimally invasive, non-surgical, treatment alternative to the usual medical and surgical management of symptomatic leiomyomata. The procedure is performed by an Interventional Radiologist who uses angiographic techniques to embolize both uterine arteries, resulting in ischemic infarction and degeneration of leiomyomata. Subsequent fibroid shrinkage reduces or eliminates abnormal bleeding, pain, and bulk-type symptoms. Get technical details of the procedure.

In 1997 Dr. Goodwin, at UCLA, first reported on early experience with UFE. Since then the procedure has rapidly expanded and is estimated that 50,000 procedures have been performed worldwide. Published data continues to accumulate with all series reporting an excellent response rate with few complications. Dr. Mark Cockerill, Medical Director of the Hampton Roads Center for Fibroid Embolization, performed the first UFE in Hampton Roads, VA in July 1998.

For additional information please review the following sections:

• Representative Cases - see angiograms and MRIs of several cases performed at the Center.
• Bibliography- selected abstracts and a list of references from the peer-reviewed medical literature.
• Protocol - Details of the protocol used for UFE at the Center.
• Contact Us - To refer a patient or receive UFE brochures for your office.