MONDAY, Nov. 21, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that MRI screening can improve the diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids.
Researchers at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago studied 100 women and found that MRI improved the selection of patients who should receive non-surgical uterine fibroid embolization to eliminate uterine fibroids.
Uterine fibroids are common benign growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They occur in up to 40 percent of women age 35 and older.
Currently, doctors use ultrasound to determine the presence of uterine fibroids but ultrasound does not show all the existing fibroids or other underlying diseases, according to the researchers.
"Using an MRI rather than ultrasound is like listening to a digital CD rather than a record -- the quality is better in every way," study author Dr. Howard B. Chrisman said in a prepared statement. "With an MRI we can clearly delineate the location of each fibroid, determine if it's viable for treatment non-surgically, rule out misdiagnosis, identify which treatments are best suited for each patient and avoid ineffective treatments."
MRIs provide images of fibroids that are visible to the untrained eye, which means patients can see exactly what is going on in their uterus.
"By working with a patient's gynecologist, interventional radiologists can use MRIs to enhance the level of patient care through better diagnosis, better education, better treatment options and better outcomes," Chrisman said.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about uterine fibroid embolization.
