Impact of demographic and clinical factors on elagolix plus add-back therapy effects on patient-reported nonbleeding symptoms in women with heavy menstrual bleeding and uterine fibroids: a post hoc analysis of data from two clinical trials.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of elagolix plus add-back therapy (estradiol [1 mg] and norethindrone acetate [0.5 mg] once daily) on patient-reported nonbleeding symptoms and menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids (UFs) across different subpopulations. Design: Post hoc analysis of two phase 3 clinical trials-Elaris UF-1 and UF-2. Setting: A total of 76 (UF-1) and 77 (UF-2) US clinical sites. Patients: Women (N = 591) with UFs and heavy menstrual bleeding. Interventions: Elagolix (300 mg) twice daily with add-back therapy (the indicated dose for UF-associated heavy menstrual bleeding) vs. placebo for 6 months. Main Outcome Measures: "Very much improved" or "much improved" change in nonbleeding symptoms (abdominal/pelvic pain, abdominal/pelvic pressure/cramping, back pain, and abdominal bloating) and menstrual bleeding measured using a Patient Global Impression of Change scale. Improvements were assessed in subpopulations stratified using baseline characteristics (age, race [self-reported], body mass index, and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics fibroid classification). Results: Across subpopulations, differences favored elagolix plus add-back therapy (vs. placebo) for most symptoms at month 1 and all symptoms at months 3 as well as 6. In patients with characteristics commonly associated with high disease burden (age >40 years, Black/African American), those treated with elagolix plus add-back therapy reported significantly greater improvements vs. placebo at months 1-6 (P<.05) for all nonbleeding and bleeding symptoms (P≤.05). Conclusions: Premenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding and UFs receiving elagolix plus add-back therapy experienced significant improvements in nonbleeding as well as bleeding symptoms from months 1-6, regardless of baseline characteristics. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT02654054 and NCT02691494.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding With Leiomyomas: A Case Report of Its Natural Course and Therapeutic Management.

Uterine fibroids (UFs), or leiomyomas, are common benign tumors affecting a significant proportion of women by the age of 50 years. While typically non-cancerous, UFs can severely impact the quality of life (QoL) through symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and pelvic pain. We report a case of a 45-year-old Hispanic female with a history of hypertension, diabetes, nephrolithiasis, and a solitary kidney, who presented with symptomatic UFs and an ovarian cyst. Despite initial pharmacological treatment with Ortho Micronor and Myfembree, the patient experienced persistent symptoms, prompting surgical intervention. A supracervical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, lysis of adhesions, and left ovarian cystectomy were performed, resulting in symptom relief and benign postoperative findings. This case report highlights the need for personalized treatment plans and comprehensive patient counseling to manage complex gynecological conditions effectively.

A systematic review of the side effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of uterine fibroids.

Background: A new intervention called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) targets fibroids with high-intensity ultrasound pulses using ultrasound probes. This noninvasive method, which can be carried out with either magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound guidance, results in immediate coagulated necrosis within a clearly defined area a few millimeters in diameter. Methods: This systematic review evaluated the safety of HIFU in the treatment of uterine fibroids regardless of site or size. We specifically aimed to determine the incidence of side effects that can occur during and after HIFU. We searched the PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Mendeley archive using only the terms HIFU and fibroid. After identifying 1077 studies of different types from 2014 to March 2024, 300 studies were screened and 60 included. Results: According to Society of Interventional Radiology guidelines, class A adverse events (AEs) showed no significant results, and individuals with these AEs required no treatment and had no long-term consequences. Similarly, there were no class B significant results. However, 3943 of 10,204 patients (38%) complained of lower abdominal pain after the procedure, a class B AE, which resolved by analgesics. Further, 153 of 24,700 patients (0.6%) had skin burns, blisters, or nodules, and these issues resolved with conservative treatment. Additionally, 74 of 23,741 patients (0.3%) had hematuria; 882 of 5970 patients (14.7%) had abnormal vaginal discharge; 414 of 23,449 (1.7%) had vaginal bleeding; and 267 of 7598 (3.5%) had leg paresthesia. Major AEs (class C and D) were almost nonexistent, and the incidence of death in our study was zero. Conclusion: HIFU ablation of uterine fibroids is generally safe, causing mostly mild side effects and very few severe complications. The relative safety of HIFU compared to other minimally invasive techniques, such as uterine artery embolization, still needs further evaluation.

Preoperative uterine artery embolisation before hysterectomy in women with giant uterine fibroid and HIV-associated nephropathy.

Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic benign tumours occurring in women of reproductive age. Current treatment options include surgical procedures, pharmacological therapies, and minimally invasive procedures. The most commonly applied and accepted minimally invasive procedure used in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroid is uterine artery embolisation (UAE). Uterine artery embolisation is a minimally invasive procedure that can be used either as an auxiliary method or the main treatment method of symptomatic uterine fibroids. We would like to present the application of pre-operative UAE before hysterectomy in anaemic women with giant uterine fibroid (21.9 × 14.9 × 10.4 cm) and HIV-associated nephropathy. Among the possible treatment options for uterine fibroids in cases like the one presented in our manuscript, hysterectomy is the treatment of choice. However, surgical treatment in a patient with severe comorbid conditions and giant uterine fibroid carries serious risk of perioperative complications. Pre-operative UAE decreases such risk by reducing blood loss during hysterectomy and shortening operation/anaesthesia time. Although the benefits of pre-operative UAE before planned myomectomy or hysterectomy in high surgical risk patients with large fibroids has yet to be confirmed in a well-designed clinical trial, this procedure seems to be a promising tool to reduce the risk of perioperative complications in such patients.

A study on the efficacy and safety of long-term adjusted low-dose gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy for uterine fibroids and adenomyosis.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of long-term adjusted low-dose gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy (GnRH agonist drawback therapy) with nafarelin acetate in patients with uterine fibroids and/or adenomyosis with menstrual symptoms. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective, observational study initially included 118 patients with uterine fibroids and/or adenomyosis with menstrual symptoms who had received GnRH agonist (nafarelin acetate) drawback therapy for at least 7 months between 2010 and 2020. Blood hemoglobin level, maximum fibroid diameter, area of the corpus uteri, blood estradiol level, daily dosage of nafarelin acetate, and bone density in the lumbar spine and femoral neck were assessed before and after the treatment initiation. RESULTS: The median treatment period was 28 months. Menstruation had ceased in all patients. The median hemoglobin level significantly increased from 8.6 to 13.2 g/dL before treatment and at 12 months after the treatment initiation in patients with fibroids and from 8.8 to 13.3 g/dL in patients with adenomyosis, respectively. Although the treatment did not exert a significant shrinking effect on the fibroids and adenomyosis, an increase in their size was not observed in any patient. The initial dose of nafarelin acetate was 400 µg/day and was lowered to 130 µg/day at 12 months. Only 29 patients (25%) had an estradiol level <30 pg/mL. The average rate of bone density change over 6 months was -1.23% in the lumbar spine and -1.12% in the femoral neck in patients with fibroids and -1.06% in the lumbar spine and -0.14% in the femoral neck in patients with adenomyosis, which were lower than the previously reported rates. CONCLUSIONS: GnRH agonist drawback therapy was found to be useful for the long-term conservative treatment of uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. The treatment was safely and inexpensively performed with few adverse events.

Continuous adaptation of conversation aids for uterine fibroids treatment options in a four-year multi-center implementation project.

BACKGROUND: Fibroids are non-cancerous uterine growths that can cause symptoms impacting quality of life. The breadth of treatment options allows for patient-centered preference. While conversation aids are known to facilitate shared decision making, the implementation of these aids for uterine fibroids treatments is limited. We aimed to develop two end-user-acceptable uterine fibroids conversation aids for an implementation project. Our second aim was to outline the adaptations that were made to the conversation aids as implementation occurred. METHODS: We used a multi-phase user-centered participatory approach to develop a text-based and picture-enhanced conversation aid for uterine fibroids. We conducted a focus group with project stakeholders and user-testing interviews with eligible individuals with symptomatic uterine fibroids. We analyzed the results of the user-testing interviews using Morville's Honeycomb framework. Spanish translations of the conversation aids occurred in parallel with the English iterations. We documented the continuous adaptations of the conversation aids that occurred during the project using an expanded framework for reporting adaptations and modifications to evidence-based interventions (FRAME). RESULTS: The first iteration of the conversation aids was developed in December 2018. Focus group participants (n = 6) appreciated the brevity of the tools and suggested changes to the bar graphs and illustrations used in the picture-enhanced version. User-testing with interview participants (n = 9) found that both conversation aids were satisfactory, with minor changes suggested. However, during implementation, significant changes were suggested by patients, other stakeholders, and participating clinicians when they reviewed the content. The most significant changes required the addition or deletion of information about treatment options as newer research was published or as novel interventions were introduced into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-year project revealed the necessity of continuously adapting the uterine fibroids conversation aids so they remain acceptable in an implementation and sustainability context. Therefore, it is important to seek regular user feedback and plan for the need to undertake updates and revisions to conversation aids if they are going to be acceptable for clinical use.

A plain language summary describing changes in pain associated with uterine fibroids among women receiving relugolix combination therapy.

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?: This is a summary of two research studies (known as clinical trials) called LIBERTY 1 and LIBERTY 2. These studies compared how well a medicine called relugolix combination therapy and placebo worked in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding (periods) in women with uterine fibroids (published in a separate article referenced in the section: Where can readers find more information on these studies?). Researchers also looked at whether women with moderate to severe pain from uterine fibroids saw improvement in their worst pain symptoms after 24 weeks of treatment (results described in the present summary). WHAT ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS?: Women with moderate to severe pain from uterine fibroids (menstrual or nonmenstrual pain) took either relugolix combination therapy or placebo (once daily by mouth) for 24 weeks. During the last 5 weeks of treatment, 65% of women taking relugolix combination therapy and 19% of women taking placebo reported having minimal or no menstrual pain. Similarly, 45% of women taking relugolix combination therapy and 22% of women taking placebo reported having minimal or no non-menstrual pain. During the same time period, 71% of the women taking relugolix combination therapy and 40% of women taking placebo reported their worst pain was reduced by about one third compared with the start of the study. WHAT WERE THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS REPORTED BY THE RESEARCHERS?: Women with moderate to severe pain from uterine fibroids taking relugolix combination therapy were more likely to have minimal or no pain from uterine fibroids after treatment compared with women taking placebo.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03049735 (LIBERTY 1), NCT03103087 (LIBERTY 2) (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Adrenal Schwannoma Presenting as an Incidentaloma in a Patient with Uterine Fibroids and Cholelithiasis: a Rare Case Report.

Schwannomas, which are benign mesenchymal tumors derived from Schwann cells, are common in the central nervous system. While they are commonly seen in the extremities and head-neck area, their presence in visceral organs, particularly the adrenals, is uncommon. Adrenal schwannomas are frequently discovered incidentally, offering a diagnostic difficulty because of their uncommon presentation. A 46-year-old woman initially sought treatment for symptoms related to uterine fibroids and biliary stones. Diagnostic imaging uncovered an adrenal incidentaloma, necessitating a laparoscopic right adrenalectomy. The mass was determined to be an adrenal schwannoma based on its spindle-shaped cells and S-100 immunohistochemistry positivity. The patient's symptoms improved, and she was discharged with stable vital signs. Preoperative diagnosis of adrenal schwannomas is difficult and requires histological confirmation. When diagnosing non-secreting adrenal tumors with unusual radiology, surgeons should investigate for schwannoma. Post-resection adrenal schwannoma follow-up studies are scarce; however, they imply a low risk of recurrence or metastasis.

Transducer module apodization to reduce bone heating during focused ultrasound uterine fibroid ablation with phased arrays: A numerical study.

BACKGROUND: During magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) surgery for uterine fibroids, ablation of fibrous tissues in proximity to the hips and spine is challenging due to heating within the bone that can cause patients to experience pain and potentially damage nerves. This far-field bone heating limits the volume of fibroid tissue that is treatable via MRgFUS. PURPOSE: To investigate transducer module apodization for improving the ratio of focal-to-bone heating ( Δ T ratio $\Delta T_{\mathrm{ratio}}$ ) when targeting fibroid tissue close to the hips and spine, to enable MRgFUS treatments closer to the bone. METHODS: Acoustic and thermal simulations were performed using 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived anatomies of ten patients who underwent MRgFUS ablation for uterine fibroids using a low-frequency ( 0.5 MHz $0.5 \ \text{MHz}$ ) 6144-element flat fully-populated modular phased array system (Arrayus Technologies Inc., Burlington, Canada) at our institution as part of a larger clinical trial (NCT03323905). Transducer modules ( 64 elements $64 \ \text{elements}$ per module) whose beams intersected with no-pass zones delineated within the field were identified, their output power levels were reduced by varying blocking percentage levels, and the resulting temperature field distributions were evaluated across multiple sonications near the hip and spine bones in each patient. Acoustic and thermal simulations took approximately 20 min $20 \ \text{min}$ ( 7 min $7 \ \text{min}$ ) and 1 min $1 \ \text{min}$ ( 30 s $30 \ \text{s}$ ) to run for a single near-spine (near-hip) target, respectively. RESULTS: For all simulated sonications, transducer module blocking improved Δ T ratio $\Delta T_{\mathrm{ratio}}$ compared to the no blocking case. In just over half of sonications, full module blocking maximized Δ T ratio $\Delta T_{\mathrm{ratio}}$ (increase of 82% ± $\pm$ 38% in 50% of hip targets and 49% ± $\pm$ 30% in 62% of spine targets vs. no blocking; mean ± SD), at the cost of more diffuse focusing (focal heating volumes increased by 13% ± 13% for hip targets and 39% ± 27% for spine targets) and thus requiring elevated total (hip: 6% ± 17%, spine: 37% ± 17%) and peak module-wise (hip: 65% ± 36%, spine: 101% ± 56%) acoustic power levels to achieve equivalent focal heating as the no blocking control case. In the remaining sonications, partial module blocking provided further improvements in both Δ T ratio $\Delta T_{\mathrm{ratio}}$ (increased by 29% ± 25% in the hip and 15% ± 12% in the spine) and focal heating volume (decrease of 20% ± 10% in the hip and 34% ± 17% in the spine) relative to the full blocking case. The optimal blocking percentage value was dependent on the specific patient geometry and target location of interest. Although not all individual target locations saw the benefit, element-wise phase aberration corrections improved the average Δ T ratio $\Delta T_{\mathrm{ratio}}$ compared to the no correction case (increase of 52% ± 47% in the hip, 35% ± 24% in the spine) and impacted the optimal blocking percentage value. Transducer module blocking enabled ablative treatments to be carried out closer to both hip and spine without overheating or damaging the bone (no blocking: 42 ± 1 mm $42\pm 1 \ \text{mm}$ / 17 ± 2 mm $17 \pm 2 \ \text{mm}$ , full blocking: 38 ± 1 mm $38\pm 1 \ \text{mm}$ / 8 ± 1 mm $8\pm 1 \ \text{mm}$ , optimal partial blocking: 36 ± 1 mm $36\pm 1 \ \text{mm}$ / 7 ± 1 mm $7\pm 1 \ \text{mm}$ for hip/spine). CONCLUSION: The proposed transducer apodization scheme shows promise for improving MRgFUS treatments of uterine fibroids, and may ultimately increase the effective treatment envelope of MRgFUS surgery in the body by enabling tissue ablation closer to bony structures.

Single-stage resection of uterine fibroids and intravascular leiomyomatosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Uterine Fibroids (UFs) are common benign tumors in the female reproductive tract, but their progression to intravascular leiomyomatosis (IVL) is rare. Presently, there are few reports on single-stage resection of UFs and IVL. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old woman, G2P2, had been diagnosed multiple UFs four years ago and now developed heart failure. Imaging examinations revealed that UFs had invaded the right iliac vein and extended into the right atrium through the inferior vena cava. Through multidisciplinary collaboration and a single-stage resection, the patient has survived for over 24 months post-surgery, and her heart function has significantly improved compared to preoperative levels, with no recurrence of UFs observed. CONCLUSIONS: Single-stage resection of IVL and UF is feasible and advantageous for this case, and selecting the appropriate surgical approach is crucial.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Complications of Different Hysterectomy Techniques in the Management of Uterine Fibroids.

Introduction: Uterine fibroids, which are benign tumors affecting a significant proportion of women, often necessitate hysterectomy for suggestive relief. Understanding the relative efficiency and safety profiles of different techniques is crucial for optimizing patient care. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled women diagnosed with symptomatic uterine fibroids who underwent hysterectomy. Surgical techniques included "total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH)", "laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH)", and "vaginal hysterectomy (VH)". Efficacy outcomes included operative time, blood loss, and recurrence rates, while complications encompassed intraoperative and postoperative adverse events. Results: Laparoscopic hysterectomy demonstrated the shortest operative time and least blood loss compared with TAH and VH. Total abdominal hysterectomy had the highest rates of both intraoperative and postoperative complications, followed by LH and VH. Recurrence rates were comparable among the three techniques. Conclusion: Laparoscopic hysterectomy offers advantages in operative efficiency and complication rates compared with total abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy techniques.

An Updated Review of Thermal Ablation Technology for Uterine Fibroids and Adenomyosis: Focusing on Protecting Fertility.

There is a growing trend towards minimally invasive or noninvasive alternatives for gynecological disorders due to their rapid alleviation of symptom, expedited recovery, and minimal risks of postoperative complications. Thermal ablation technology has been commonly advocated as a minimally invasive therapeutic methods in recent years, including microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and high-intensity focused ultrasound. The increasing application scenarios require updated and systematic research, and more evidence to promote their appropriate use. The objective of this review is to summarize the latest views of ablation from a prospective of fertility protection, endeavor to clarify the clinical value of thermal ablation technology in protecting fertility by assessing parameters such as ablation rates, alleviation of disease symptoms, re-intervention rates and post-treatment pregnancy rates. We review the clinical studies of ablation for uterine fibroids and adenomyosis treatment in the past 10 years, summarize the limitation and the prospects of its development in the treatment process, so as to provide clinicians with advice on the best practice. In the management of uterine fibroids and adenomyosis, thermal ablation technology offers improved fertility preservation and minimizes normal tissue injury compared to traditional surgical approaches for patients pursuing reproductive goals. In the future, thermal ablation technology will play a significantly enhanced role in preserving fertility for individuals requiring treatment for uterine fibroids and adenomyosis, guided by indications. But further research is still needed in the form of more extensive randomized prospective trials to provide stronger evidence supporting this perspective.

The Uterus Keeps the Score: Black Women Academics' Insights and Coping with Uterine Fibroids.

Few studies examine how high-achieving Black women navigate chronic reproductive health morbidities. Black women are disproportionately more likely to experience uterine fibroids, with earlier onset and more severe symptoms. This study leverages a national mixed-methods data set of Black women academics to examine how they describe symptomatic fibroids impacting their careers and lives. We find that participants (1) actively coped by engaging in superwoman schema, (2) postponed treatment due to the demands of their tenure-track position, and (3) normalized pain. Our findings suggest a potentially high prevalence of uterine fibroids among Black women faculty, that symptomatic fibroids were an impediment to some women's careers, and that women with symptomatic fibroids often identified expectations of their careers as an impediment to seeking timely treatment. We provide insights for how highly educated, successful Black women cope and navigate career stress coupled with challenges resulting from chronic reproductive health morbidities.

Sonographic features of uterine fibroids that predict the ablation rate and efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the sonographic indicators that predict the ablation rate and efficiency of uterine fibroids during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical data of patients with uterine fibroids who underwent HIFU treatment at Fujian Provincial Hospital between April 2019 and April 2022. Routine abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed to observe potential indicators before the HIFU treatment. After the treatment, enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was performed within 2 weeks. The fibroid and non-perfused volumes (NPV) were determined, and the ablation rate and energy efficiency factor (EEF) were calculated. Results: A total of 75 patients (124 uterine fibroids) were included in this study. Uterine fibroids with a larger volume, high echogenicity, elliptical/diffuse leaf shape, and a posterior attenuation band had a higher HIFU ablation rate (p<0.05). Uterine fibroids with a larger volume and high echogenicity and without necrotic areas had a lower EEF (p<0.05). Multiple comparisons between fibroid types revealed statistically significant differences in EEF between subserosal and submucosal fibroids (p < 0.05) and between subserosal and mixed-type fibroids (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was observed between mixed-type and submucosal fibroids. The HIFU ablation rate and EEF showed no significant differences based on location within the wall and blood flow within the fibroids. Conclusion: Sonographic features of uterine fibroids can predict the rate and efficiency of HIFU ablation, providing useful guidance in selecting appropriate treatment for patients.

Challenging Surgical Management of Giant Uterine Leiomyomas With Ileal Resection: A Clinical Case Study.

Uterine fibroids, or leiomyomas, are common benign tumors of the uterus, generally asymptomatic but potentially causing severe symptoms and complications in some cases, as demonstrated in this report. This case presents significant management challenges due to the fibroids' size, number, and location, including an unusual complication involving adhesion to the ileum. A 40-year-old female with a history of P2L1D1 and no significant comorbidities presented with three months of progressive abdominal pain and a rapidly enlarging mass resembling a 30- to 32-week gravid uterus and heavy menstrual bleeding. Clinical findings included severe anemia with a hemoglobin level of 5.5 g/dL. Imaging studies revealed a bulky uterus with numerous multilobulated, well-defined, solid, hypoechoic fibroids subserosally and intramurally, raising suspicions of sarcomatous conversion. The patient underwent a laparotomy, which involved the resection of multiple large subserosal fibroids and a total abdominal hysterectomy, necessitated by extensive uterine distortion and the patient's preference against fertility preservation. A significant intraoperative discovery was the adhesion of fibroids to the ileum, which required bowel resection and anastomosis. This case emphasizes the complexity of managing extensive uterine fibroids, highlighting the need for thorough preoperative assessment, preparation for potential intraoperative complications, and the importance of a multidisciplinary surgical approach. The successful management and uneventful recovery underscore the effectiveness of proactive and comprehensive surgical intervention in cases with significant fibroid burden and associated anatomical challenges.

nnU-Net based segmentation and 3D reconstruction of uterine fibroids with MRI images for HIFU surgery planning.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) ablation represents a rapidly advancing non-invasive treatment modality that has achieved considerable success in addressing uterine fibroids, which constitute over 50% of benign gynecological tumors. Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in the planning and guidance of HIFU surgery for uterine fibroids, wherein the segmentation of tumors holds critical significance. The segmentation process was previously manually executed by medical experts, entailing a time-consuming and labor-intensive procedure heavily reliant on clinical expertise. This study introduced deep learning-based nnU-Net models, offering a cost-effective approach for their application in the segmentation of uterine fibroids utilizing preoperative MRI images. Furthermore, 3D reconstruction of the segmented targets was implemented to guide HIFU surgery. The evaluation of segmentation and 3D reconstruction performance was conducted with a focus on enhancing the safety and effectiveness of HIFU surgery. Results demonstrated the nnU-Net's commendable performance in the segmentation of uterine fibroids and their surrounding organs. Specifically, 3D nnU-Net achieved Dice Similarity Coefficients (DSC) of 92.55% for the uterus, 95.63% for fibroids, 92.69% for the spine, 89.63% for the endometrium, 97.75% for the bladder, and 90.45% for the urethral orifice. Compared to other state-of-the-art methods such as HIFUNet, U-Net, R2U-Net, ConvUNeXt and 2D nnU-Net, 3D nnU-Net demonstrated significantly higher DSC values, highlighting its superior accuracy and robustness. In conclusion, the efficacy of the 3D nnU-Net model for automated segmentation of the uterus and its surrounding organs was robustly validated. When integrated with intra-operative ultrasound imaging, this segmentation method and 3D reconstruction hold substantial potential to enhance the safety and efficiency of HIFU surgery in the clinical treatment of uterine fibroids.

Radiomics and quantitative multi-parametric MRI for predicting uterine fibroid growth.

Significance: Uterine fibroids (UFs) can pose a serious health risk to women. UFs are benign tumors that vary in clinical presentation from asymptomatic to causing debilitating symptoms. UF management is limited by our inability to predict UF growth rate and future morbidity. Aim: We aim to develop a predictive model to identify UFs with increased growth rates and possible resultant morbidity. Approach: We retrospectively analyzed 44 expertly outlined UFs from 20 patients who underwent two multi-parametric MR imaging exams as part of a prospective study over an average of 16 months. We identified 44 initial features by extracting quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features plus morphological and textural radiomics features from DCE, T2, and apparent diffusion coefficient sequences. Principal component analysis reduced dimensionality, with the smallest number of components explaining over 97.5% of the variance selected. Employing a leave-one-fibroid-out scheme, a linear discriminant analysis classifier utilized these components to output a growth risk score. Results: The classifier incorporated the first three principal components and achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [0.69; 0.91]), effectively distinguishing UFs growing faster than the median growth rate of 0.93 cm 3 / year / fibroid from slower-growing ones within the cohort. Time-to-event analysis, dividing the cohort based on the median growth risk score, yielded a hazard ratio of 0.33 [0.15; 0.76], demonstrating potential clinical utility. Conclusion: We developed a promising predictive model utilizing quantitative MRI features and principal component analysis to identify UFs with increased growth rates. Furthermore, the model's discrimination ability supports its potential clinical utility in developing tailored patient and fibroid-specific management once validated on a larger cohort.

Uterine fibroids and non-informative cell-free DNA screening results.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine fibroids are monoclonal tumors, which are often genetically abnormal and associated with false-positive genome-wide cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening results, particularly when large. It is plausible that fibroids may also increase the risk of cfDNA failure by affecting fetal fraction or due to their genetic anomalies confounding cfDNA algorithms. We aimed to investigate a possible association between fibroids and cfDNA non-informative results. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing cfDNA screening for fetal chromosomal abnormalities between 2013 and 2020, comparing pregnancies with vs without uterine fibroids recorded on any obstetric ultrasound before 24 weeks' gestation. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between fibroids and cfDNA failure, adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, weight and height at blood sampling, mode of conception, multiple gestation and test platform (chromosome-selective or genome-wide). Analyses were stratified according to the number of fibroids and total fibroid volume. The impact of fibroids on fetal fraction was assessed using linear regression, adjusting for the same covariates. RESULTS: Among 19 818 pregnancies undergoing cfDNA screening, fibroids were reported in 2038 (10.28%) and cfDNA failure at the first screening attempt occurred in 228 (1.15%) pregnancies. Non-informative results occurred in 1.96% of pregnancies with fibroids and 1.06% of pregnancies without fibroids (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.40 (95% CI, 1.65-3.48)). The risk of failure in the first screening attempt increased progressively with the number of fibroids (aOR, 5.05 (95% CI, 2.29-11.13) in women with four or more fibroids) and total fibroid volume, with greater than a 5-fold and 14-fold increase in risk among women with fibroid volumes of 100.1-400 mL (aOR, 5.52 (95% CI, 2.30-13.25)) and > 400 mL (aOR, 14.80 (95% CI, 4.50-48.69)), respectively. Although test failure was more common with chromosome-selective than genome-wide screening, fibroids similarly increased the risk of failure of both screening platforms. Compared to pregnancies without fibroids, those with fibroids had a fetal fraction on average 0.61% lower (adjusted mean difference, -0.61% (95% CI, -0.77% to -0.45%)). CONCLUSION: Uterine fibroids are associated with lower fetal fraction and an increased risk of cfDNA screening failure. The strength of this association increases with increasing fibroid number and volume. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The role of VEGF and TGF-ß blood levels for fibroid shrinkage, menorrhagia score, and quality of life improvement after uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids: a study protocol.

Uterine leiomyoma is a common condition affecting women that occurs in more than 70% of females. Women with leiomyomas overall have lower quality of life and deficiency in many specific spheres of life including work-related productivity, sexuality, relationships, social-emotional health, and physical well-being that might be present even in pre-and extended throughout early postmenopausal life. Choices for symptomatic fibroid management include medical, interventional radiology procedures, surgical, and expectant management. The uterine artery embolization (UAE) procedure has gained justified popularity for myoma management. Growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor growth factor ß (TGF-ß), hold an important role in leiomyoma progression. However, blood levels of VEGF and TGF-ß in patients before and after UAE are not fully investigated and the possible relationship with myoma shrinkage has not been evaluated. Therefore, this study aims to assess menorrhagia score and quality of life improvement after UAE for uterine fibroids and compare blood levels of VEGF and TGF-ß in patients with uterine leiomyoma before and after UAE. This cross-sectional study will be performed at the University Medical Center, Astana, Kazakhstan. Women undergoing the UAE procedure for uterine leiomyoma will be involved in the study following the precisely defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Uterine leiomyoma nodules' structural changes after UAE will be assessed along with the blood levels of growth factors (VEGF and TGF-ß), menorrhagia score, and quality of life. An important outcome of this project will be an investigation of the blood levels of growth factors (VEGF and TGF-ß) before and after the procedure and their association with leiomyoma shrinkage in correlation with the menorrhagia score and quality of life alterations among patients undergoing UAE.

Thinking in context: Fibroids-to-uterine volume ratio in pre-surgical fertility evaluation for intramural fibroids.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the utility of the total fibroids-to-uterine volume (FTUV) ratio as a simple, preoperative tool to assist in counseling patients seeking pregnancy who are undergoing myomectomy for intramural (IM) fibroids. STUDY DESIGN: This is an historical cohort study on reproductive-aged patients seeking pregnancy who underwent laparotomic myomectomy for intramural fibroids from January 2017 to December 2021. Only G3 to G5 fibroids, according to the 2011 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification, were included. Pre-operative transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) was performed to measure the volume of intramural myomas (diameter1*diameter2*diameter3*0.52) and to calculate their total volume. The total fibroids-to-uterine volume (FTUV) ratio was calculated as the proportion of the uterine volume occupied by the sum of IM fibroids volumes. RESULTS: A total of 166 women with pre-surgical TVUS evaluation of IM fibroids were included, with a mean age of 36.22 ± 5.15 years. The FTUV ratio was identified as a positive predictor of clinical pregnancy after surgery (adjOR, 1.04; 95 % CI, 1.02-1.06; p = 0.0001), whereas age showed a negative association (adjOR, 0.90; 95 % CI, 0.83-0.98; p = 0.012). Endometrial cavity distortion prior to surgery was also positively associated with pregnancy post-surgery (adjOR, 3.50; 95 % CI, 1.51-8.08; p = 0.003). Consistent results were found for live births, with the FTUV ratio being a significant positive predictor of live birth after surgery (adjOR, 1.03; 95 % CI, 1.01-1.05; p = 0.001) and age showing a negative association (adjOR, 0.88; 95 % CI, 0.80-0.96; p = 0.004). Parity prior to surgery also positively impacted live birth post-surgery (adjOR, 2.65; 95 % CI, 1.30-5.40; p = 0.007). An FTUV ratio threshold of 53.39 % accurately predicted clinical pregnancy in 68.46 % of cases (sensitivity of 71.70 % and specificity of 66.67 %). For live births, a higher FTUV ratio threshold of 59.21 % predicted outcomes accurately in 69.13 % of cases (sensitivity of 65.85 % and specificity of 70.37 %). CONCLUSION: The use of the FTUV ratio in pre-operative ultrasound evaluation of IM fibroids may improve counseling for patients desiring to conceive after myomectomy. By providing a personalized assessment of the amount of myometrial volume occupied by fibroids, the FTUV ratio can help predict fertility outcomes after surgery, enabling better-informed decisions and treatment planning.