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Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) therapy of uterine fibroids effectively reduces both bleeding and bulk symptoms-A prospective single-center 12-month follow-up study

Otonkoski S, Viitala A, Komar G, Sainio T, Yanovskiy A, Lehtonen I, Blanco Sequeiros R, Perheentupa A et al.

Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2026

163 participants

Abstract

Introduction: Uterine fibroids are common benign neoplasms in women. Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is a noninvasive treatment that has been shown to reduce fibroid-related symptoms and improve quality of life (QoL). In this study, we aimed to clarify symptom reduction in patients with isolated bleeding or bulk symptoms.

Material and methods: This prospective study with a 12-month follow-up included 163 women with uterine fibroids causing either bleeding or bulk symptoms and deemed suitable for MR-HIFU treatment. Treatments were carried out using an extracorporeal tabletop MR-HIFU system (Sonalleve V2, Profound Medical Inc., Mississauga, Canada). The non-perfused volume ratio (NPV%) was determined after treatment. Symptom severity and QoL were assessed using the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life questionnaire at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months after treatment. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02914704).

Results: A total of 122 women with bleeding and 41 women with bulk symptoms were included. The overall mean NPV% for all patients was 62%. The median symptom severity score (SSS) at baseline was 56 (IQR 47-69) and 46 (34-63), at 3 months 28 (16-44) and 19 (6-30), and at 12 months 25 (13-31) and 19 (6-41) for the bleeding and bulk groups, respectively. The reduction of SSS was statistically significant between baseline and 3 months (p < 0.001) and between baseline and 12 months (p < 0.001) in both groups. The…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 163 participants or records.

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