Insufficient Leiomyoma Infarction in Uterine Artery Embolization: Relationship with Tumor Location

To evaluate which leiomyoma location in the uterus predicts insufficient tumor infarction after uterine artery embolization (UAE).

In this single-institution retrospective study, 45 patients (mean age, 43.4 y ± 4.1) underwent UAE for leiomyomas using trisacryl gelatin microspheres alone with "pruned-tree" endpoint performed by qualified interventional radiologists between October 2015 and July 2017. Technical outcomes and complications were assessed. All patients underwent unenhanced and enhanced MR imaging before and after UAE. A total of 476 tumors of ≥ 1 cm observed in all patients were evaluated. Multivariate generalized linear mixed model analysis was performed to investigate relationships between insufficient tumor infarction (< 90%) on contrast-enhanced MR imaging after UAE and baseline factors, including tumor location in the long-axis, front-back, and inner-outer directions and tumor size.

All patients successfully underwent UAE with no major complications. Multivariate analysis revealed that there was a higher likelihood of insufficient infarction of tumors at the cervix (odds ratio [OR] 80.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.97, 649.09; P < .001) and lower body (OR 4.31; 95% CI 2.52, 7.38; P < .001) than at the upper body and of tumors at the front than at the back wall (OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.32, 3.67; P = .002). Tumor size (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.61, 0.82; P < .001) was a significant factor, whereas tumor location in the inner-outer direction was not.

Insufficient leiomyoma infarction after UAE was more likely to involve tumors at the cervix, lower body, or front wall of the uterus or smaller tumors.