UTERINE LIOMAYOMAS

introduction

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign gynecologic tumors. The prevalence of uterine leiomyoma has been reported as high as 20% to 40% [1, 2]. This benign disease tends to increase in size until menopause. Although 50% of patients are asymptomatic, uterine leiomyoma is one of the common causes of hysterectomy in premenopausal women [3]. With the modern increase in later marriages and pregnancies, uterus-preserving treatments have gained favor as an alternative to hysterectomy. Patients also generally choose procedures that avoid the risks of surgical complications and general anesthesia. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is one of the new minimally-invasive alternatives to hysterectomy, and over 22,000 cases are performed per year in the United States [4]. UAE does not cause post-procedure adhesions and can treat all leiomyoma lesions simultaneously. Leiomyomas that necrotized and complete infarcted after UAE procedure represented no recurrence during the long-term follow-up period. UAE can control heavy vaginal bleeding within 24 hours after the procedure in 90% of patients [5].

Although demand for UAE has increased, research about predictive factors of the response after UAE has been limited. There are various factors that could affect post-UAE outcomes, such as location, size, and number of leiomyomas [6-8]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most precise imaging method for localizing leiomyomas and for differentiating lesions from other diseases such as adenomyosis, solid ovarian tumors, and leiomyosarcomas [9]. MRI before UAE is also very helpful in predicting success and adverse effects of the procedure [10, 11]. The degree of vascularity, contrast enhancement, signal intensity in T1- and T2-weighted imaging, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in diffusion weighted imaging were factors associated with the efficacy of UAE [12-15].

We expected that it could be possible to predict uterine leiomyoma treatment response to UAE by analyzing various factors from pre-procedure MRIs. We performed this study to design a prediction model for UAE by using select characteristics from pre-procedure MRI.

Materials and Methods

Study subjects

We analyzed medical record and MRI findings of uterine leiomyoma patients who underwent UAE for the treatment of symptomatic uterine leiomyoma from December 1, 2008 to August 31, 2014 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. Among 198 patients, 104 who received MRIs with diffusion-weighted imaging were selected for this study. Among the patients who underwent UAE, those with uterine adenomyosis or pelvic congestion syndrome, and those who did not perform a post-UAE follow-up MRI were excluded. Approval for the use of information from medical records and MRI findings was granted by the Institutional Review Board of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (KC13RASI0311).

Determination of groups and variables for analysis

Among 104 patients, 70% of the patients were randomly assigned to a model development group (73 patients), and the remaining patients formed the model evaluation group (31 patients). The former group was used to provide data to develop a model for the prediction of treatment response of uterine leiomyomas after UAE, and the latter group was used to objectively validate the model.

We defined the high-response group to be those patients in whom the total uterine volume (TUV), including the myoma, and the largest leiomyoma volume (LMV) were both reduced below the median values after UAE. The remaining subjects were categorized as the low-response group. We analyzed characteristics of the model development group, including age, body mass index (BMI), marital status, and parity. We measured TUV, LMV, location of the largest leiomyoma, T1 and T2 signal intensity, the degree of contrast enhancement of the largest leiomyoma, b1000 and ADC values in pre-UAE MRI, and variables except b1000 and ADC values in post-UAE MRI and analyzed the differences before and after procedure.

TUV and LMV were calculated using the formula for ellipsoid volume (width x length x height x π/6). The location of the largest leiomyoma was categorized as either subserosal, intramural, or submucosal type. We also classified the largest leiomyoma according to the leiomyoma subclassification system of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) [16]. Signal intensities at T1, T2, and b1000 were classified as high, iso, or low signal intensity in comparison to normal myometrium. The degree of contrast enhancement of the largest leiomyoma was classified as either heterogeneous or homogenous. The largest leiomyoma's ADC and T2 signal intensities were calculated using regions of interest (ROI). To more objectively compare leiomyomas between patients, using a common denominator was necessary. Therefore, the T2 leiomyoma:muscle ratio was used to predict reduction of uterine leiomyoma size [17].

Model analysis for prediction of treatment response of uterine leiomyomas after uterine artery embolization

Through analysis of the model development group, we determined variables that will be included in the final estimation model and analyzed receiver operating characteristics (ROC) according to the final model. We classified post-UAE response of uterine leiomyomas into quartiles and verified the model using a box plot.

Uterine artery embolization

Interventional radiologists performed UAE in all patients in the same manner. After skin preparation of the right inguinal region, 10 ml of 2% lidocaine HCl was injected locally and the skin was incised. The right femoral artery was punctured with an 18G angiocatheter needle and a 5.5 Fr arterial sheath was then inserted. 10 ml of saline solution mixed with heparin was then injected through the sheath. Both uterine arteries were selected using a 5 Fr RUC catheter (RUC; Cook, Bloomington, IN, USA), and following a coaxial microcatheter, pelvic angiography was performed with a 5 Fr pigtail catheter and a 0.035-inch Terumo wire (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan). The selective uterine arteriogram was obtained and 500 - 700 micron polyvinyl alcohol particles (Contour; Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) were then injected through the microcatheter for embolization. Post-embolization pelvic angiography was then performed. The endpoint of UAE was occlusion of the perifibroid plexus, but with preserved sluggish antegrade flow in the uterine arteries. Abdominal aortography was done at the end of the procedure, and if recanalization of the artery was observed, additional embolization was done until arterial flow was appropriately slowed.

Statistical Analysis

After UAE, if both TUV and LMV were reduced from the median values, then we determined these patients to be the high-response group, while the other subjects were denoted as low-response. The data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) in continuous variables or numbers and percentages in categorical variables. The subjects' characteristics were compared depending on response after UAE by use of independent-sample Student's t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. For continuous variables that did not show a normal distribution, we used a log conversion for the analysis.

Final risk factors that were included in our estimation model were obtained from logistic regression analysis. For considering small sample size, we used Firth's Penalized Likelihood approach in SAS software [18]. After building an estimation model, we validated the model using an ROC curve and area under the curve (AUC). In this study, statistical analyses were performed by using SAS software (version 9.3; SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). A P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Discussion

In this study, we analyzed various factors obtained from pre-procedure MRIs to predict treatment response of uterine leiomyoma after UAE. As a result, we found that submucosal leiomyomas showed a better response to UAE, and if total leiomyoma number and the sum of leiomyomas diameters were smaller, the response after UAE was also improved.

The results of the present study correspond well with those of an earlier study that reported that submucosal leiomyomas respond better to UAE. This phenomenon was explained by the distribution of the vasculature in the myometrium. The radial artery, the main branches of intramural uterine artery, supplied much more blood flow to the central two-thirds of the myometrium, including the endometrium. Therefore, UAE is more effective in the treatment of submucosal leiomyomas than intramural or subserosal leiomyomas [28]. A large uterine volume before UAE is known to be a poor prognostic factor. This is related with the fact that a large uterine volume before UAE means that embolic particles need to be delivered to larger regions [10]. This finding was similar to our study results that a smaller number of total leiomyomas and smaller sum of leiomyomas diameters led to a greater response to UAE.

Signal intensities of pelvic MRIs before UAE also correlated with treatment response of leiomyoma after UAE. Treatment response after UAE was much improved when the uterine leiomyoma showed a high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging and the ratio of T2 signal intensity between uterine leiomyoma and gluteus muscle was high. Leiomyomas that showed a high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging and which showed greater treatment response after UAE had a close correlation with the cellularity and vascularization of the lesions [29]. Cellular leiomyomas that showed high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging and this histologic type displayed a greater response to UAE [30]. These results are consistent with the present study. One study showed that the ratio between the uterine leiomyoma and skeletal muscle was higher when the treatment response was greater [17].

We developed a model for predicting treatment response of uterine leiomyoma after UAE. As a result, we could design a model using the location and T2 signal intensity of leiomyoma. In general, if the AUC in a ROC curve is above 0.7, it is accepted as appropriate in an epidemiologic study. The prediction model that resulted from this study had an AUC of 0.833, and examination using validation set showed the AUC to be 0.791. It showed that this model is accepted as appropriate. A previous study about the prediction of early response to UAE in leiomyomas using T1 signal intensity and degree of contrast enhancement had AUC values of 0.712 for T1 signal intensity and 0.731 for degree of contrast enhancement [28]. Compared to this study, our study found that T2 signal intensity and lesion location were more appropriate for prediction of treatment outcome.

This study has several limitations. First, this study has a small sample size. Because of its small sample size, there were difficulties in producing a prediction model effectively. For overcoming this limitation, we used odds ratios from Firth's Penalized Likelihood method [18]. This method is suitable for medical studies especially for small sample size. Second, this is a retrospective study. Third, there was a lack of specific information about symptom relief after UAE. If study subjects had been increasing continuously, and long-term follow-up study was adequately performed, further studies about the factors associated with treatment response after UAE could be possible. The effect of associated factors on the recurrence or continuation of the therapeutic effect could then be evaluated in the future.

The results of this study suggest that submucosal leiomyomas and leiomyomas that show high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging will experience a greater response after UAE. Employing a prediction model in clinical practice would be incredibly useful in selecting UAE as an appropriate treatment option for managing uterine leiomyomas.