Radiation Exposure and Uterine Artery Embolization: Current Risks and Risk Reduction

Uterine embolization has become accepted into the mainstream of fibroid therapies and now is among the most common interventions for the condition. Because the procedure is based on angiographic techniques, it requires fluoroscopic and angiographic imaging, both dependent on exposure to ionizing radiation. Given the increasing popularity of this procedure, it is important to understand the potential impacts of this exposure on both individual patients and also the population as a whole. This review is intended to summarize the our current knowledge of the potential risks associated with the radiation exposure from procedure and how those risks might be controlled and reduced by adjusting techniques used during the procedure.