Comparison between non-spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles and tris-acryl gelatin microspheres after uterine artery embolization: a retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to compare leiomyoma infarction rates and embolization success using pelvic MRI following uterine artery embolization (UAE) using non-spherical polyvinyl-alcohol particles (nsPVA) or tris-acryl-gelatin microspheres (TAGM). A retrospective analysis was performed in 141 patients (mean age, 38 years) who underwent standard bilateral UAE with either nsPVA (n = 80) or TAGM (n = 61). Embolization success was defined as complete infarction of all discernible fibroids. Mann-Whitney U and independent-sample t-test were used to compare data types. A binary logistic regression was performed. 556 fibroids were evaluated, with a median uterine volume of 435 cm3 and a median dominant fibroid volume of 110 cm3. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding baseline characteristics, including age (P = 0.446), uterine volume (P = 0.148), dominant myoma volume (P = 0.124), and non-infarcted myoma number (P = 0.092). The tumor infarction rate in the nsPVA and TAGM groups was 74% (251/337) and 79% (174/219), respectively, which was approximately similar (P = 0.191). Likewise, embolization success was similar among both groups (67.5% vs. 72.1% for nsPVA and TAGM, respectively, P = 0.589). There was an inverse relationship between the number of preliminary non-infarcted myomas and embolization success rate (P = 0.035). This study assessed the availability and side effects of these two substances, and patients underwent a 6-month follow-up MRI to evaluate possible consequences. According to post-embolization MRI, the leiomyoma infarction and embolization success rates for nsPVA and TAGM were similar. The decrease in uterine and myoma volumes was analogous to both drugs.