Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound surgery of uterine fibroids—The tissue effects of GnRH agonist pre-treatment

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the ablative effect of magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) on fibroid tissue following the administration of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist.Study designFifty women with clinically symptomatic uterine fibroids were treated. Those with uterine diameter of 10 cm or greater were given 3 months pre-treatment with GnRH agonists. Data regarding number of ultrasound sonications, Joules of energy delivered and volume of thermal destruction was recorded.ResultsTwenty-seven subjects were given GnRH agonist therapy before MRgFUS and 23 women underwent MRgFUS without pre-treatment. All patients in both study groups completed MR guided FUS as an outpatient procedure with no device related adverse events reported. In the group of women who received GnRH agonists, the volume of ablation was significantly larger than that in the control group (0.06 cm3 versus 0.03 cm3, P < 0.05), per Joule of energy applied.ConclusionThe use of GnRH agonists potentiates the thermal effects of MRgFUS in women undergoing treatment of uterine fibroids.