Frequently Asked Questions

Focused Ultrasound is the only non-surgical procedure that has been approved by the FDA to treat uterine fibroids using MR guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS). The patient lies face down and enters the MR scanner in a feet-first fashion, allowing their head to remain outside the magnet at all times. Ultrasound waves (high frequency sound waves that the human ear cannot hear) are focused and passed through the skin to the treatment area. Similar to how a magnifying glass focuses light waves, the heating of the fibroid tissue occurs with little to no pain felt by the patient. This procedure uses MR images to allow the doctor to see inside your body and locate exactly where the fibroid is. During the treatment, MR images allow the doctor to see what temperatures the fibroid has reached, and after treatment, MR images allow the doctor to see how successful the treatment has been. This procedure has been FDA approved for over two years and is now available in your area.

In general, people who cannot go into an MR scanner will not be able to have the Focused Ultrasound treatment - this includes patients with metallic implants, patients who are claustrophobic, and patients who are allergic to the contrast agent, a dye used to see blood vessels during MR imaging. There are contraindications specific to each application and clinical protocol.

During the 3-4 hour procedure, the patient lies on her stomach on a table inside an MRI scanner. Sedation and pain medication are given for relaxation. The patient is conscious throughout the procedure and in constant communication with the doctor. First, MR images are taken to locate the uterine fibroid tumor and surrounding anatomy and these images are used to plan treatment. Then individual pulses of high intensity focused ultrasound (hifu) energy, called sonications, each lasting about 20 seconds, are directed to the fibroid. During each sonication, the tissue is heated to a temperature that results in necrosis, MR images are taken during each sonication showing the temperature reached allowing for real time control and monitoring of the treatment. Each treatment requires multiple sonications, depending on the size of the tumor. After the treatment, MR images with contrast agent are taken to determine the outcome of the treatment. Following the procedure the patient rests for 1-2 hours until the sedation wears off and then returns home. Most people return to normal activity within 2-3 days.

Each exposure of high intensity focused ultrasound (hifu) energy, or "sonication", ablates a volume in the uterine fibroid tumor of about 6x6x25 mm. Therefore, multiple sonications are required to ablate the entire tumor, and the time required for a treatment depends on the tumor size. Treatments usually do not last longer than three hours, and multiple treatments may be required for large uterine fibroid tumors.

Focused Ultrasound is performed as an outpatient procedure, with minimal post treatment pain. There are no needles or incisions, and no blood loss. For most indications, the patient is conscious during the entire Focused Ultrasound procedure. Furthermore, patients in the uterine fibroid pivotal trial who receieved the Focused Ultrasound treatment were able to return to normal activities quicker than patients who opted for surgery.

Procedure	What is it?	Estimated Recovery Time
Focused Ultrasound (MR guided Focused Ultrasound - MRgFUS)	Non-invasive, FDA approved outpatient procedure which utilizes ultrasound energy to shrink the size of the fibroids.	1-2 days
Hysterectomy	Surgical removal of the entire uterus and in some cases, removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes.	6-8 weeks
Myomectomy	Surgical removal of one or more of the fibroids.	2-3 weeks
Laparoscopic Myomectomy or Laparoscopic Hysterectomy	One or more of the fibroids, or the entire uterus, are surgically removed using laparoscopic endoscopic techniques.	2-3 weeks
Hormone Therapy	Drug treatments causing fibroid shrinkage, associated with several clinical side-effects.	None
Uterine Artery Embolization	Invasive radiology procedure which decreases blood flow to the fibroids.	3 weeks
Watchful waiting	No treatment. Monitoring for any progression of symptoms.	Not applicable

Over 2000 patients have been treated for uterine fibroids and more than 300 in other research applications such as breast cancer, pain palliation of bone metastases at Focused Ultrasound in the US and around the world. For more information on our clinical studies, click here. Look under Focused Ultrasound Literature on this website for publications related to Focused Ultrasound studies.

Healthy patients return to work or normal activity within 1-2 days.