Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive treatment of uterine fibroids by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided focused ultrasound (FUS). 

Methods and Materials: Nine women (mean age 49.1year) with symptomatic uterine fibroids, were treated by MR imaging-guided FUS. All the women had a pre-treatment multiplanar MRI to identify the fibroid for the FUS treatment based on the clinical basis and on T2-weighted imaging.  The FUS treatment is based upon sequential sonications of the target volume. Temperature sensitive phase-difference-based MR imaging is performed during each sonication to monitor focus localization and tissue temperature changes. After treatment, T1-weighted contrast-enhanced imaging was performed to evaluate the treated volume. Clinical improvement is assessed by a detailed questionnaire. Imaging follow-up is performed using T2 and T1-weighted with contrast MR imaging. 

Results: The procedure was successful in all patients. In six women one fibroid was treated and in three women more than one fibroid was treated. The fibroid volume ranged from 15mL to 400mL with a mean volume of 109.3mL. The percent of treated volume ranged from 8.5% to 57.5% with a mean of 30.2%. The treated volume was measured as the area of lack of enhancement after treatment. Most of the (8) women reported improvement in their symptoms, and one women continued to suffer from vaginal bleeding and she is planned for hysterectomy. There were no complications. 

Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that a non-invasive MR imaging guided FUS is an effective and promising method to treat uterine fibroids