Vaginal expulsion of submucosal fibroids after uterine artery embolization- A report of three cases

BACKGROUND: Since October 1996, at our fibroid center, we have been using t he center artery embolization (UAE) procedure as a nonsurgical means to tre at patients with fibroids and menorrhagia. We have performed this procedure on over 180 patients, 3 of whom experienced vaginal expulsion of submucosa l fibroids from two to seven months later. CASES: A 37-year-old woman underwent UAE in November 1997 and expelled five submucosal fibroids two to three months later. A 43-year-old woman underwe nt UAE in August 1997 and expelled a submucosal fibroid four months later. A 46-year-old woman underwent UAE in April 1997 and expelled a submucosal f ibroid seven months later. CONCLUSION: The use of UAE to treat patients with fibroids and menorrhagia is relatively new. Our experience has revealed that a significant percentag e of patients who have had the embolization procedure will have reduction i n menorrhagia and also in the volume oftheirfibroids. Complications and sid e effects have been few. Vaginal expulsion of submucosal fibroids can be vi ewed as a side effect gf the procedure, and, to the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of this postembolization occurrence.