September 10, 1999

When Paula Telesco was 23 years old, she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. The noncancerous tumors, which grow in a layer of muscle in the uterus, were found during a routine gynecological exam.

At first, the fibroids didn't cause any pain, but they eventually grew in size, causing Telesco to experience heavy menstrual bleeding, severe cramps and enlargement of her abdomen. For many years the fibroids plagued her, even after several different courses of treatment – including hormone treatment and two myomectomies, the surgical removal of the fibroid tissue. The fibroids grew back, however, causing even more pain. At one point, Telesco even had to be rushed to an emergency room because the fibroids caused severe, uncontrollable bleeding.

Now nearly 20 years later, at the age of 42, Telesco has finally found relief in a relatively new treatment called fibroid embolization, performed by MGH vascular radiologists.

During embolization, a catheter is placed into the uterine artery and particles are injected to block the flow of blood into the uterus. According to Chieh-Min Fan, MD, of MGH Vascular Radiology, the embolization essentially starves the fibroid of a blood supply and causes it to shrink. "The interesting part of this procedure is that it is a relatively less invasive treatment that can successfully shrink even large fibroids that might otherwise require a total hysterectomy for removal," says Fan.

Fan performs a pelvic procedure.

Fibroids are the most common pelvic tumor in women and usually occur during the child-bearing years. Symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, pressure and pain. They can eventually lead to kidney and urinary tract blockages as well as infertility.

One of the most common treatments for fibroids is hormonal treatment. However, once the treatment is stopped, the fibroids usually grow back. There also are various surgical and laser treatment options, including the myomectomy that Telesco underwent. However, none of these procedures guarantee that regrowth will be prevented.

"So far, many women have found embolization to be successful in decreasing or eliminating their fibroid-related symptoms," says Fan. "Although the chances of regrowth aren't completely known, the less invasive nature of the procedure is appealing."

For Telesco, the fibroids have not grown back since the embolization procedure was done a year ago. "I am very happy with the results," she says. "I would do it again in a second. Even though I'm not 100 percent cured, I'm happy that I don't have to have another major surgery, and I am relatively sure that the fibroids won't come back."

For more information about fibroid embolization, call MGH Vascular Radiology at 6-8314.