Evaluation of Uterine Fibroid Vascularity Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Comparison with Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the work described here was to assess uterine fibroid vascularity using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Forty women diagnosed with symptomatic uterine fibroids scheduled for uterine artery embolization (UAE) were enrolled in this institutional review board-approved study. Before UAE, participants underwent CEUS examination with an Aplio i800 scanner (Canon Medical Systems, Tustin, CA, USA) with curvilinear array (8C1). CEUS was performed using 2.0 mL of the ultrasound contrast agent Lumason (Bracco, Milan, Italy) administered intravenously. Digital CEUS clips were acquired and randomized offline, and fibroids were characterized as hyper- or hypovascular. MRI was used as reference standard for fibroid vascularity and compared with CEUS. Results were analyzed using McNemar's test. RESULTS: Forty participants were enrolled in the trial. One patient did not proceed with the UAE procedure and one patient refused pre-procedure MRI because of claustrophobia. Therefore, 38 participants underwent CEUS and MRI examinations before UAE. Hypervascular fibroids were seen on MRI and CEUS in 24 and 26 participants, respectively. Hypovascular fibroids were seen with MRI and CEUS in 14 and 12 participants, respectively. Fibroids characterized as hypovascular in two participants by MRI were characterized as hypervascular by CEUS. CEUS and MRI findings were similar in 36 of 38 participants, corresponding to an accuracy of 95% (p = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can accurately assess uterine fibroid vascularity, serving as a potential alternative to MRI in determination of the vascularity of uterine fibroids.

Preoperative Endovascular Embolization of Orbital Solitary Fibrous Tumor With 500-700 Micron Tris-Acryl Gelatin Microspheres.

The reported experience with preoperative embolization of solid orbital tumors is scarce. Herein, we present a case of a large and hypervascular orbital solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in which 500-700 µm tris-acryl gelatin microspheres (TAGM) were used for preoperative embolization. A 41-year-old man presented with severe proptosis, palpable mass, restrictive myopathy, exposure keratopathy, and compressive optic neuropathy in the right orbit. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 65x35x35 mm, diffusely contrast-enhanced tumor in the superior orbit, extending to the apex, and multiple intratumoral vascular flow voids. A diagnosis of SFT was made by incisional biopsy. Endovascular tumor embolization was performed with 500-700 µm TAGM. Two days later, the tumor was entirely removed with minimal bleeding. No embolization- or surgery-related complications and tumor recurrence or metastasis developed during the 42-month postoperative follow-up.

The assessment of the relationship between the vascularity of FIGO Type 4-7 leiomyomas and abnormal uterine bleeding.

The current study aimed to analyse and compare the vascularity of FIGO Type 4-7 leiomyoma specimens obtained from women with or without abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). The records of 31 women who underwent myomectomy for FIGO Type 4-7 leiomyomas in a university hospital setting were analysed. Group I (n = 16) was composed of women that were symptomatic for AUB and group II (n = 15) consisted of asymptomatic cases. The myomectomy material(s) of each case were processed with CD34 staining and evaluated by Image J® software (Image J 1.52a, Wayne Rasband National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). There was no statistically significant difference between the rates of vascular areas in the specimens of the two groups (p>.05). Although areas with large vessels were higher in group I compared to group II, the difference did not reach statistical significance (p>.05). AUB caused by FIGO Type 4-7 leiomyomas seems to be related to factors other than vascular density.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign gynaecologic neoplasms with a prevalence of approximately 40% in women of reproductive age. They are most often asymptomatic but when symptomatic, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the most commonly observed symptoms. Although there are some hypothetical explanations, the exact pathogenesis underlying leiomyoma-associated AUB has not yet been elucidated. Almost a century ago, the vascular abnormalities of fibroids were hypothesised as one of the etiopathological factors correlated with clinical symptoms, such as AUB, and current data suggest that the vascular map of leiomyomas consists of an avascular core surrounded by a vascularised capsule. To our knowledge, there are no studies in the literature comparing the histopathological evaluation of the vascularity scores of FIGO Type 4-7 leiomyomas in symptomatic (with AUB) and asymptomatic (without AUB) women.What the results of this study add? The study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the vascularity scores of FIGO Type 4-7 leiomyomas excised from the symptomatic and asymptomatic women. Large vessel densities also did not statistically significantly differ between the two groups.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study revealed that AUB caused by FIGO Type 4-7 leiomyomas was related to factors other than vascular density.

Differences in fibroid vascularity after three months of pre-treatment with leuprolide acetate or ulipristal acetate: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate differences in volume and fibroid vascularity expressed in vascular index after three months of (pre-)treatment with leuprolide acetate (LPA) or ulipristal acetate (UPA). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective pilot study of 23 premenopausal women with uterine fibroids. Patients who started with LPA or UPA and had at least one fibroid with a size between 3 and 12 cm, were included consecutively. Per patient one fibroid was evaluated. The ultrasound was performed at baseline and after three months using LPA or UPA using a standardized protocol. 3D scans were evaluated using VOCAL software to calculate outcomes of volume, vascular index (VI) without shell ("shell off") and of the inner shell. RESULTS: Four patients in the LPA group were additionally excluded from analyses due to insufficient quality of 3D scans. In the ten remaining patients (pre-)treated with LPA both volume and vascular indices of the fibroid reduced significantly after three months from a median of 224.3 cm3 (IQR 338.0) to 124.8 cm3 (IQR 186.1) (p = 0,05); median VI fibroid (shell off) reduced from 4.30 (IQR 4.72) to 0.93 (IQR 1.54) (p = 0,05); and VI inner capsule from 6.34 (IQR 7.51) to 1.28 (IQR 2.13) (p = 0,05). After UPA (n = 9) changes in fibroid volume and vascular indices did not reach statistical significance. Volume reduced from 248.5 cm3 (IQR 271.9) to 140.7 cm3 (IQR 209.4) (p > 0,05); median VI fibroid (shell off) from 2.97 (IQR 3.81) to 2.90 (IQR 4.82) (p > 0,05); and VI inner capsule from 2.56 (IQR 7.48) to 2.89 (IQR 4.83) (p > 0,05). A strong positive correlation was found between the VI of the fibroid (shell off) at baseline with the volume change after three months of LPA use (LPA r = 0.636, p = 0.048, 95% CI = -0.03 - 1.00). CONCLUSION: In this pilot study we observed a consistent and statistically significant decrease in VI and fibroid volume after three months of LPA treatment in patients with uterine fibroids. The decrease in fibroid volume and VI was less consistent after UPA use. The strong correlation between the VI at baseline and volume reduction, may in theory be used to predict the volume reduction after LPA.

The Enlarged Fibroid Uterus: Aberrant Arterial Supply via the Omental Artery.

Uterine artery embolization is considered a first-line therapy for symptomatic fibroids and is occasionally required to mitigate operative risk prior to total abdominal hysterectomy or myomectomy. We present a pictorial review of parasitized omental artery supply to the enlarged fibroid uterus in three patients undergoing preoperative uterine artery embolization. A detailed understanding of variant uterine blood supplies is crucial when performing fibroid embolization. Although omental artery supply to the fibroid uterus is an unusual finding, aortography to include mesenteric arteries may be necessary when anomalous blood supply to the enlarged fibroid uterus is suspected.

Predictive Value of Quantitative Uterine Fibroid Perfusion Parameters From Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for the Therapeutic Effect of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the predictive significance of quantitative perfusion parameters from contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the therapeutic response to high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation in patients with uterine fibroids. METHODS: A total of 263 patients with single uterine fibroids were treated with HIFU ablation under ultrasound guidance. The arrival time, peak time, enhancement time, enhancement intensity, and enhancement rate were evaluated with pretreatment CEUS. According to a nonperfused volume ratio evaluation by posttreatment magnetic resonance imaging, all patients were assigned to groups with volume ratios of 70% or higher and lower than 70%. Then the predictive performances of different parameters for ablation efficacy were studied. RESULTS: The arrival time, peak time, and enhancement time in the group with a nonperfused volume ratio of 70% or higher were longer than those in the group with a volume ratio lower than 70% (mean ± SD, 16.7 ± 3.5, 26.5 ± 4.9, and 10.2 ± 2.6 seconds, respectively, versus 13.3 ± 4.2, 20.8 ± 5.4, and 7.6 ± 2.3 seconds), whereas patients with a volume ratio of 70% or higher had a lower mean enhancement intensity and enhancement rate than those with a volume ratio lower than 70% (29.7 ± 16.7 dB and 3.2 ± 1.5 dB/s versus 63.2 ± 26.3 dB and 8.6 ± 4.3 dB/s; P < .05). The nonperfused volume ratio was negatively correlated with the enhancement intensity and enhancement rate (r = -0.631 and -0.712) but positively correlated with the arrival time, peak time, and enhancement time (r = 0.322, 0.456, and 0.477; P < .05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the enhancement time, enhancement intensity, and enhancement rate were 0.73, 0.79, and 0.81 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative parameters from CEUS are potentially useful for evaluating the therapeutic effect of HIFU ablation for uterine fibroids.

Transdifferentiations and heterogeneity in the stromal niches of uterine leiomyomas.

Uterine leiomyomas, also known as uterine fibroids (UFs), are benign smooth muscle cells tumors, the most frequent tumors in women. Even though UFs are monoclonal tumors, they contain a heterogeneous and versatile cells population. There are scarce proofs about the processes of transdifferentiation that might occur in UFs, modify the tumor microenvironment and support blood and lymph vessels formation. The stromal niches of the UFs harbor cells with angiogenic∕lymphangiogenic, as well as with vasculogenic∕lymphvasculogenic potential, which belong to a phenotypic continuum between the endothelial and mesenchymal lineages. Within these niches, the expressions of CD44 and podoplanin were less investigated and regarded as markers of such processes of transdifferentiation.

[MODERN VIEW ON ETIOPATHOGENESIS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIAGNOSIS OF UTERINE FIBROIDS].

Uterine fibroids remain a burning issue for modern gynecology and cause suffering to women, significantly worsening their quality of life. This article includes the latest information about etiology, risk factors, pathobiochemical, genetic and immunological features of pathogenesis, clinical findings, early detection of fibroids and sarcoma differential diagnostic criteria by ultrasonography and MRI. Foreign publications form the basis of the given article, as well as domestic ones.

Use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Assessment of Uterine Fibroids: A Feasibility Study.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an innovative ultrasound technique capable of visualizing both the macro- and microvasculature of tissues. In this prospective pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of using CEUS to visualize the microvasculature of uterine fibroids and compared CEUS with conventional ultrasound. Four women with fibroids underwent gray-scale ultrasound, sonoelastography and power/color Doppler scans followed by CEUS examination. Analysis of CEUS images revealed initial perfusion of the peripheral rim, that is, a pseudo-capsule, followed by enhancement of the entire lesion through vessels traveling from the exterior to the interior of the fibroid. The pseudo-capsules exhibited slight hyper-enhancement, making a clear delineation of the fibroids possible. The centers of three fibroids exhibited areas lacking vascularization, information not obtainable with the other imaging techniques. CEUS is a feasible technique for imaging and quantifying the microvasculature of fibroids. In comparison with conventional ultrasound imaging modalities, CEUS can provide additional diagnostic information based on the microvasculature.

Management of a giant retroperitoneal leiomyoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Leiomyomas are benign tumors observed mainly in adult women. The retroperitoneum is a rare location for leiomyomas; almost 100 cases have been reported. Because retroperitoneal leiomyomas are paucisymptomatic and the tumor size at diagnosis is relatively large, surgical management is challenging. Regular follow-up is required because recurrence and malignant sarcomatous transformation have been described in a few cases. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 52-year-old North African woman with a 22-cm retroperitoneal leiomyoma. A preoperative embolization was performed 2 days before surgery. The clinical, therapeutic, and evolutive aspects of this rare entity are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its benignity, retroperitoneal leiomyoma is a challenging diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutive condition. Surgeons must consider mainly the tumor's vascularization. Regular follow-up is mandatory because malignant transformation cannot be excluded.

Influence of Ulipristal Acetate Therapy on Uterine Fibroid-Related Symptoms and on Uterine and Fibroid Volumes and Vascularity Indices Assessed by Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the modifications of uterine and fibroid volume, to study Doppler changes in uterine arteries and fibroid-supplying vessels, and to assess possible symptomatic relief after 3 months of treatment with ulipristal acetate. METHODS: Forty-two premenopausal women with symptomatic fibroids were included in the study. They were evaluated clinically for the symptoms reported and underwent ultrasound examinations before starting treatment and after 3 months of therapy with ulipristal acetate. Transvaginal scanning was performed by the same sonographer, who measured the uterine volume and uterine artery pulsatility index and resistive index. Considering that some patients had more than 1 fibroid, the vascularization (supplying vessel pulsatility and resistive indices), locations, and sizes of a total of 73 fibroids were also recorded. RESULTS: After 3 months of ulipristal acetate, patients had a significant improvement of all symptoms (P < .05). The percentage of uterine volume reduction was 14% (P = .03), with fibroid volume reduction of 32.8% (P = .01). Uterine artery vascular indices decreased after treatment, but their reduction did not reach significant results, whereas all fibroid vascular indices decreased significantly after 3 months of ulipristal acetate (P < .05). When the fibroids were divided according to their localization, all had significant volume reduction after therapy, but type 5 had the highest decrease (42%) compared to other fibroid types (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Fibroid treatment with ulipristal acetate resulted in a significant improvement of fibroid-related symptoms; moreover, it proved to be effective in decreasing both uterine and fibroid volumes and fibroid vascularization. Type 5 fibroids seem to have the most major response to treatment.

[A STUDY OF UTERINE HEMODYNAMICS USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL POWER DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH ADENOMYOSIS].

The goal of the work was the investigation of volumetric blood flow parameters in uterine body of women of different ages suffering from various forms of adenomyosis, in three-dimensional angio mode, in order to search for objective differential-diagnostic criteria of this pathology. The main study group included 46 women aged 18 to 45 who were diagnosed with II-III degree adenomyosis at ultrasound examination of pelvic organs according to the conventional procedure in a two-dimensional mode. The control group included 111 healthy women aged 18 to 45 years old. A study of hemodynamics of the uterine body of women of both groups was carried out in three-dimensional angiography mode using the energy mapping function and VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-Aided Analysis) option by calculating the vascularization index (VI), which characterizes the percentage ratio of blood vessels in a certain tissue volume, blood flow index (FI), characterizing the intensity of blood flow, showing the volume of blood cells moving in vessels at the examination time, and vascularization flow index (VFI), which is an indicator of organ perfusion. As a result, it has been established that volumetric blood flow parameters in women of the main group and the control group preserved statistically significant dynamics of changes depending on the menstrual cycle phases: their values were minimum at menstrual cycle early proliferative phase, reaching their maximum by the medium secretory phase due to corpus luteum maturation in the ovary, and decreasing by late secretory phase. No significant differences in VI, FI, VFI parameters of the uterine body in women with different types of adenomyosis were found. Significant differences have been established in uterine perfusion of women with adenomyosis in combination with uterine leiomyoma in the form of an increase in vascularization parameters compared with an isolated form of adenomyosis. However, despite this, they were all significantly lower than in the control group, and this applies to both isolated form of adenomyosis and adenomyosis in combination with leiomyoma. The obtained data confirm the characteristic hypovascularization of the myometrium of patients with adenomyosis and allow using the three-dimensional power Doppler sonography technique for the diagnostics of adenomyosis. The reduction of parameters VI, FI, VFI in assessment of uterine hemodynamics compared with the volumetric vascularization parameters of healthy women can be used as an objective differential-diagnostic criterion for this pathology. The obtained results of the study of volumetric blood flow parameters (VI, FI, VFI) of the uterus of women with isolated adenomyosis of various forms and adenomyosis in combination with uterine leiomyoma would allow, on the first part, to improve the accuracy of ultrasound diagnostics of adenomyosis based on a significant decrease in these parameters compared to those of healthy women. On the second part, they will significantly increase the level of differential diagnostics between the nodular form of adenomyosis and the uterine nodular leiomyoma based on the diagnostics of myometrial hypovascularization in adenomyosis. On the third part, a decrease in the values of the studied parameters compared to the normal values in women with uterine leiomyoma is indicative of a combination of leiomyoma with adenomyosis.

Radiation Exposure During Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): A Confounder-Controlled Comparison Between a State-of-the-Art Angiography Unit and a Conventional Angiography unit.

PURPOSE: To compare radiation exposure of a state-of-the-art and a conventional angiography unit in patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2009 and December 2016, 286 patients underwent UFE in our Interdisciplinary Fibroid Center. The inclusion criteria for this retrospective analysis were first-time transarterial embolization for symptomatic fibroids, bilateral embolization, procedures applying a state-of-the-art (Group 1) or a conventional angiography unit (Group 2), and bilateral technical success with an adequate embolization endpoint after the injection of microspheres. Study endpoints included radiation exposure, major complications, morphological success (MRI), and clinical success (questionnaire on quality-of-life). Propensity score matching controlled for confounders. RESULTS: The inclusion criteria were met by 58 (Group 1) and 177 (Group 2) patients. After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference between Group 1 (n = 46) and Group 2 (n = 92) regarding age, body-mass index, volume of the dominant fibroid and the uterus, fluoroscopy time, and amount of embolic agent (p ≥ 0.10 each). The dose-area product was significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (1159.0 cGycm2 vs. 3123.5 cGycm2; p < 0.001), while major complication rates (both groups 0 %) and dominant fibroid devascularization (both groups 100 %) were equal (p > 0.99). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding shrinkage of the dominant fibroid and the uterus and no relevant differences regarding patient-reported quality-of-life. CONCLUSION: A state-of-the-art angiography unit has the potential to reduce radiation exposure in patients undergoing UFE without increasing the risk of major complications and with comparably high morphological and clinical success. KEY POINTS: · A state-of-the-art angiography unit potentially reduces radiation exposure in patients undergoing UFE.. · Reduced radiation exposure does not seem to negatively influence the rate of major complications.. · Reduced exposure does not seem to negatively affect morphological and clinical success.. CITATION FORMAT: · Sommer C, Voigt W, Oliger MK et al. Radiation Exposure During Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): A Confounder-Controlled Comparison Between a State-of-the-Art Angiography Unit and a Conventional Angiography unit. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2018; 190: 250 - 258.

3D power Doppler in uterine fibroids; influence of gain, cardiac cycle and off-line measurement techniques.

This study answers the question of whether ultrasound machine settings and the cardiac cycle can influence 3D power Doppler (3D PD) indices in the evaluation of uterine fibroid vascularisation. These parameters were reported to affect the vascular indices and cause undesired variation. 3D PD ultrasound was performed using three different gain settings: a fixed predetermined gain (50 dB), a higher gain (65 dB) and an individualised subjectively most optimal gain. Two consecutive 3D PD sweeps were taken to evaluate the effect of the cardiac cycle. A predetermined most optimal fixed gain setting was not different from the individually most optimal chosen gain in vascular assessment of fibroids. A higher gain corresponded with a significantly higher vascular index (VI). Potential variation during the cardiac cycle does not disturb the VI in fibroids.