Fibroids

Did you know? One-third of the 600,000 yearly hysterectomies performed in the United States are attributed to fibroids (non-cancerous growths). Most of these growths don’t cause symptoms — only 10 to 20 percent of women require treatment. If fibroids are causing you discomfort, pain, or bleeding, Kevin Carson, MD, CAQ, at Georgia Vascular Institute can help. Dr. Carson can recommend nonsurgical treatments like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and other minimally invasive procedures. Call the Atlanta or Stockbridge, Georgia, office to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online today.

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are very common, non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. These growths can range in size and vary from tiny growths, about a quarter of an inch, to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, uterine fibroids can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy.

In most cases, there is more than one fibroid present in the uterus. While these growths do not always cause symptoms, their size and location can lead to problems for some women, including pain, heavy bleeding, and vaginal bleeding.

What are the symptoms of fibroids?

Depending on size, location, and number of the growths, uterine fibroids may cause:

• Pelvic pain and pressure
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain in the back and legs
• Bladder pressure (frequent urge to urinate)
• Pressure on the bowel (bloating and constipation)
• Abnormally enlarged abdomen

Heavy, prolonged menstrual periods and unusual (abnormal) monthly bleeding, sometimes with clots, can occur with uterine fibroids. This blood loss can lead to anemia.

How are fibroids diagnosed?

Women typically undergo an ultrasound at their gynecologist’s office as part of the evaluation process to determine the presence of uterine fibroids. It is a rudimentary imaging tool for non-cancerous growths that often does not show other underlying diseases or all of the existing fibroids.

For this reason, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard imaging tool used by the interventional radiologists at Georgia Vascular Institute. MRI improves patient selection for who should receive nonsurgical uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) to destroy non-cancerous tumors. 

Interventional radiologists also use MRIs to determine if a tumor can be embolized, detect alternate causes for the symptoms, identify pathology that could prevent women from having UFE, and avoid ineffective treatments.

Using an MRI rather than an ultrasound to detect uterine fibroids is superior in every way. By working with patients’ gynecologists, interventional radiologists use MRIs to enhance the level of patient care through more accurate diagnosis, improved education, and better treatment options and outcomes.

To learn more about uterine fibroids and the treatments available to you at Georgia Vascular Institute, call either office to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online, which is fast and convenient.