Abstract

Menorrhagia is defined as bleeding that originates from the uterus . In developing countries, the majority of cases are due to fibroid uterus. Massive menorrhagia is a major clinical and surgical problem with a mortality of 80%, which is most often related to hemodynamic instability.3,4 Uterine fibroids are the most frequent tumors of the female genital tract, occurring in 20–50% of women who are older than 40 years. Uterine fibroid, the most common cause of nonacute abnormal uterine bleeding, is also the most common solid uterine neoplasm occurring in 20–40% of all women during their reproductive period10. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) was introduced in the 1970s to treat postpartum hemorrhage14. In the 1990s, this technique was successfully used preoperatively 3–10 days before myomectomy to reduce bleeding during the surgical phase14. In 1995, Ravina et al.15 proposed embolization of uterine arteries as an alternative to surgical treatment of uterine leiomyoma. Recent important technologic advances in three dimensional color doppler sonography, have introduced a comprehensive, noninvasive method of evaluating the entire uterus, allowing detailed assessment of the vascularity and volume of fibroid1,2. Three dimensional color doppler sonography can also help in the planning of a focused and efficient non uterine systemic artery embolization. It provides a precise road map for the interventional radiologist in performing an endovascular treatment for menorrhagia. Uterine artery embolization leads to good technical success and fibroid volume reduction10.

Description