BOSTON, May 29 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have found noninvasive ultrasound effectively shrinks uterine fibroids and significantly relieves fibroid-related symptoms in women.
The multicenter clinical trial led by Dr. Fiona Fennessy of the Harvard Medical School showed magnetic resonance-guided, focused ultrasound surgery allows radiologists to precisely target fibroids without harming healthy surrounding tissue.
"This treatment immediately stops blood flow in the treated fibroid tissue, which results in a significant, sustained decrease in symptoms for up to 12 months," said Fennessy.
Uterine fibroids are benign growths of the muscle in the uterus. According to the National Institutes of Health, at least 25 percent of women in the United States age 25 to 50 suffer from symptomatic uterine fibroids. Fibroid symptoms can include excessive menstrual bleeding, enlarged uterine size, frequent urination, pelvic pressure or pain and infertility.
The research is reported in the June issue of the journal Radiology.
