Evaluation of the timing and safety of hysteroscopic myomectomy of large submucosal fibroids pretreated by high intensity focused ultrasound

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the timing and safety of hysteroscopic myomectomy for large submucosal fibroids pretreated with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Materials and methods

From June 2011 to December 2020, 74 patients with solitary submucousal fibroid with size larger than 4 cm who received HIFU treatment followed by hysteroscopic myomectomy were enrolled.

Results

The average age of patients was 40.2 ± 6.7 years. Among them, 1 had type 0, 18 had type I and 55 patients had type II submucosal fibroids. The mean diameter of fibroids was 5.7 ± 1.2 cm. All patients completed HIFU in one session, and the median non-perfused volume (NPV) ratio achieved in fibroids was 90.5%. Hysteroscopic myomectomy was performed in 0–1, 1–3, 3–6, and 6–12 months after HIFU. The mean shrinkage rate of fibroids post-HIFU was 68.19 ± 19.86%, 61.10 ± 16.89%, and 63.76 ± 26.68% in 1–3 months, 3–6 months and 6–12 months, respectively. All patients completed hysteroscopic myomectomy successfully, and no intrauterine adhesion after HIFU was observed. The complete resection of fibroids achieved in 69 patients in one session of the procedure. The mean operation time was 66.66 ± 31.61 min, the median blood loss was 20 ml, and the median distention medium deficit was 275 ml. No significant difference was observed in the operation time, blood loss and distention medium deficit among patients who received hysteroscopic myomectomy at different time points (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

HIFU can be used as a pretreatment for large submucosal fibroids before hysteroscopic myomectomy. Based on our results, hysteroscopic myomectomy could be performed at any time point, even within 1 month after HIFU.

Keywords:

• Uterine fibroids
• high-intensity focused ultrasound
• hysteroscopic myomectomy
• timing
• safety

Disclosure statement

Lian Zhang is senior consultant to Chongqing Haifu. The other authors have no potential conflict of interest to declare. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this case report are available upon request from the corresponding author, L.Z. The data are not publicly available because they contain information that can compromise the privacy of the research participants.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.