Assessment of the curative effects and the application value of the radio-frequency ablation in treating uterine leiomyomas by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS)in evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of uterine leiomyoma treated by radiofrequency ablation(RFA)and to discuss the value of its application.Methods Forty-four patients which were diagnosed as uterine leiomyomas by ultrasonic guidance needle puncture biopsy preoperation were examined by CEUS before and one week after RFA treatment respectively,and the patho-results were got again after the surgery.Routine ultrasonography was performed in 1,3,6,12 months after the treatment to compare the volume change of uterine leiomyomas with the change of the clinical symptoms.Results After the treatment,CEUS showed that the contrast agent didn't appear in thirty-five patients'uterine leiomyomas and the nonperfusion regions matched the size of the uterine leiomyomas completely.The contrast agent enhanced on the edge of the uterine leiomyomas in nine,the patho-results confirmed that the nonperfusion regions of the contrast agent were necrosis tissues and the marginal local enhancement regions were incomplete necrosis.Three month after RFA treatment,the uterine leiomyomas began to shrink,which showed obviously in 6 months after the treatment.There were significant differences in the parameters before and after the treatment(P＜0.05).Clinical symptoms improved obviously in thirty-five patients(90%)after the treatment.Conclusions RFA is an effective minimally invasive surgery of the uterine leiomyoma.CEUS can identify the treatment range and the remaining tissues.It has significant value in guiding the supplementary treatment.