Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of uterine leiomyomas following uterine artery embolization

Purpose To test whether variations in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of uterine leiomyomas after uterine artery embolization (UAE) may correlate with outcome and assess the effects of UAE on leiomyomas and normal myometrium with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods Data of 49 women who underwent pelvic MRI before and after UAE were retrospectively reviewed. Uterine and leiomyoma volumes, ADC values of leiomyomas, and normal myometrium were calculated before and after UAE. Results By comparison with baseline ADC values, a significant drop in leiomyoma ADC was found at 6-month post-UAE (1.096 × 10 -3 mm 2 /s vs. 0.712 × 10 -3 mm 2 /s, respectively; p