Mayo Clinic Survey Set for Symposium

Published:

Symposium attendees involved in MR-guided focused ultrasound treatments for uterine fibroids will have an opportunity to participate in an important Mayo Clinic study.

The study, which represents a follow-up to clinician responses gathered in 2008 at the 1st International Symposium on MR-guided Focused Ultrasound, requires completion of two brief questionnaires. The first questionnaire is now posted online and must be completed prior to the October 20 symposium session on Uterine Fibroids and Fertility. Click here to participate.

The second questionnaire is a hardcopy form that will be handed out and collected after the October 20 session.

Eva Bouwsma, M.D., the research fellow coordinating the study, says the survey responses will increase understanding of clinical experience and of the factors that currently limit the use of MR-guided focused ultrasound to treat uterine fibroids. Survey participation, she adds, is voluntary and completely confidential.

Approved by the Mayo Clinic IRB (#10-006304), this year’s study is being led by Gina K. Hesley, M.D.All questions can be emailed to Dr. Bouwsma at the Mayo Clinic Center for Uterine Fibroids.

Highlights of 2008 Mayo Clinic survey

Published:
June 2010 in Fertility and Sterility (Vol. 94, No. 1)

Participants:
5 gynecologists and 7 radiologists

Assessment of:
Expert opinion on 14 patient selection criteria that could be considered to be limitationsto focused ultrasound therapy.

Results:
Mild adenomyosis, heavy bleeding, bulk complaint and pelvic pain were viewed as lesslikely to be an impediment to therapy. Severe adenomyosis, gadolinium non-enhancement and postmenopausal status were considered to be the most limiting factors.

Other findings:

90% of respondents had used MR-guided focused ultrasound for more than 2 years. The mean percentage of patients screened as eligible for focused ultrasound treatment was 36%, and the mean number of patients treated monthly was 3.1.

The mean percentage of patients eligible for treatment who did not receive therapy owing to declined reimbursement was reported to be 81%.

Survey responses identified 17 adverse events which were not previously reported in published literature. Reasons for under-reporting are unknown.

The study also showed that material presented at the 2008 symposium increased clinicians’ concerns about using focused ultrasound to treat patients who had severe adenomyosis or had five or more fibroids larger than 3 centimeters.

“Clinical use of MR-guided focused ultrasound has increased since 2008, and we anticipate receiving a greater number of survey responses,” Dr. Bouwsma says. “It will be interesting to see how clinical experience has changed and how this emerging field has evolved over the past two years.”

Written by Ellen C., McKenna