Uterine arterial embolization for uterine fibroid：correlation between uterine fibroid and ovarian blood supply / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To retrospectively analyze the correlation between uterine fibroid and ovarian blood supply, and to discuss the visualization of ovarian artery and uterine ovarian branch in uterine arterial embolization. Methods A total of 363 patients with clinically-confirmed uterine fibroid were enrolled in this study. Uterine arterial embolization was carried out in all patients. The visualization of ovarian artery and uterine ovarian branch during angiography was recorded. After the procedure the changes of uterine fibroid and ovarian functions were followed up. The results were statistically analyzed. Results The blood supply of uterine fibroid could be divided into three types unilateral artery as the main source of blood supply (34.16%), bilateral balanced blood supply (43.80%) and unilateral uterine artery (22.04%). The visualization rate of uterine ovarian branch in bilateral balanced blood supply type was significantly higher than that of other two types (P<0.05). The visualization rate of ovarian artery at the side which was lack of blood vessels was higher than that at the opposite side (P< 0.05). Transient ovary functional impairment was observed in patients with visualization of uterine ovarian branch, which restored to normal in three months. No significant difference in the reduction of the tumor mass existed between each other among the different blood supply types. Conclusion The blood supply types of uterine fibroids have a parallel relationship with the ovarian blood supply from ovarian artery and/or uterine ovarian branch. Special attention should be paid to the uterine arterial embolization of the side that is lack of blood vessels, and it is needed to carefully observe the embolization extent, the flow velocity, etc. during the performance of embolization so as to avoid ovarian function impairment.