A fibroid is a benign tumor that is found in the uterus.
　　　　　　A patient with a fibroid will experience the following symptoms:
　　　　　　　　*an increased amount of blood during menstruation
　　　　　　　　*pain during one’s period
　　　　　　　　*abdominal pressure

　　　　　　As of today, there are numerous ways to treat fibrotic uteri,
　　　　　　including hormone treatment, UAE, and hysterotomy.
　　　　　　However, FUS is said to be desirable over such treatment
　　　　　　procedures because of its lesser magnitude of side effects and Invasiveness。

　　　　　　The MRgFUS is currently being used in many major medical clinics around the world.
　
　　　　　
　　　　*an MRgFUS-operating computer screen:
　　　　　　　The patient’s pulse rate and blood oxygen level are shown on the screen
　　　　　　　at all times, and the temperature increase of when the fibroid is
　　　　　　　being “burned” with the ultrasonic waves is also indicated.

　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　*before MRgFUS　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*after MRgFUS

　

　　　MRgFUS (MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery) is a way of treating fibroids in the uterus
　　　by using ultrasonic waves rather than directly incising the skin.

　　　Approximately 80% of MRgFUS-treated patients have reported that their symptoms
　　　of fibrotic uteri (menstrual and abdominal pain, etc) have been reduced.

　　　Patients who:

　　　　　　*are experiencing excess blood during menstruation
　　　　　　　and/or menstrual pain due to fibroids
　　　　　　*require treatment but do not desire other forms of treatment (incision, etc)
　　　　　　*do not wish to become pregnant
　　　　　　*are not diagnosed with endometriosis
　　　　　　*have malignant tumors
　　　　　　*do not experience heart failure (cardiac angina)
　　　　　　*have not experienced myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) within the past six months
　　　　　　*have not experienced cerebral thrombosis within the past six months
　　　　　　*are applicable for the MRI
　　　　　　　　　　　(-patients who are allergic to contrast media,
　　　　　　　　　　　　patients with pacemakers, and
　　　　　　　　　　　　patients who are claustrophobic
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　are not applicable for the MRI)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…are applicable for the FUS treatment

　　　　　　++Applicability for MRgFUS is decided according to the MRI results

 

　　　　　　Apparatus: 　　　MRgFUS (Insightec ExAblate 2000)
　　　　　　Time required: Approximately three to five hours;
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　once or twice (varies according to the size of the fibroid/tumor)
　　　　　　Insurance: 　　　National health insurance is not applicable

　　　　　　*Overnight stay at the hospital/clinic is not required.

 

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