Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation Ablation on Uterine Myomas

Objective To investigate the long-term curative effects of radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) on uterine myomas (UM). Methods From July 2001 to July 2011, a total of 1216 patients with UM were included in this study. They were divided into two groups according to their ages. Group A (n=476, childbearing period and middle-aged women, including 36 cases had pregnancy desire), 0.05). Results ①The follow-up results of color Doppler ultrasound at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after RFT showed, among group A, the average diameters of UM were 3.8 cm, 3.0 cm, 2.7 cm, 2.4 cm and 2.2 cm, as well as the decreased percentages of volumes were 39.8%, 70.4%, 78.4%, 84.8% and 88.3%. And the trace-image of focal zone (the diameter≤1.5 cm and the volume decreased 96.3%)was 47.7% (227/476) in 12 months after RFT. In group B, the decreased diameters were 4.7 cm, 3.7 cm, 3.3 cm, 2.3 cm and 2.3 cm, as well as the decreased percentages of volumes were 16.9%, 59.5%, 71.3%, 90.3% and 90.3%, and the trace-image of focal zone (the diameter≤1.7 cm and the volume decreased 96.1%)was 58.8% (435/740) in 12 months after RFT. Compared with pre-RFT, the volumes of UM between two groups were statistically decreased in 3 months after RFT treatment (P<0.01), and the percentage of trace-image of group B in 12 months after RFT treatment was much higher than that in group A, with significant difference (P<0.05). ② There had statistically significant difference of Hb levels between pre-RFT and at 3, 6, 12 months after RFT both in groups A and B (P<0.05). ③ The main complications of group A and B were bleeding during RFT, and the incidence rates were 24.4% and 28.5%, respectively, without serious complications. The regeneration rate of UM in group A after RFT was 10.7% (51/476), which was higher than that in group B (2.4%, 18/740) (P<0.05). Conclusions RFT is a simple, safe, effective and minimally invasive procedure for the UM which diameter is less than 5.0 cm. Key words: myoma uterus; minimally invasive treatment; radiofrequency thermocoagulation; curative effect