Re-intervention after uterine leiomyoma embolisation is related to incomplete infarction and presence of submucous leiomyomas

Abstract Objective To evaluate outcome of invasive gynecological re-interventions after uterine artery embolisation (UAE) in relation to leiomyoma characteristics. Design A cohort of 114 women with symptomatic myomas underwent UAE. Myoma characteristics were determined by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and 6 months after treatment. The median follow-up time after UAE was 55.9 months; (range 20–116). Data on gynecological re-interventions were obtained for all patients and were analysed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Data were obtained on frequency of invasive re-interventions: major myoma procedures (hysterectomy, re-embolisation, laparoscopic or abdominal myomectomy) and outpatient hysteroscopic myoma procedures. Myoma characteristics with impact on outcome of re-interventions were determined by statistical analysis. Results Total re-intervention rate was 35.1%. Hysterectomy was performed due to myoma related symptoms in 6.1% of patients, but 23.7% of patients underwent additional uterine procedures, mainly outpatient hysteroscopy (15%). Major myoma re-intervention correlated with the extent of the infarct at follow-up MRI ( n = 107). Patients had undergone major re-intervention (3 years) as follows: infarct group C (