Case Report
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Feb 16, 2024; 12(5): 980-987
Published online Feb 16, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i5.980
Abnormal uterine bleeding successfully treated via ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of uterine myoma lesions: Three case reports
Toshiyuki Kakinuma, Kaoru Kakinuma, Rora Okamoto, Kaoru Yanagida, Michitaka Ohwada, Nobuhiro Takeshima
Toshiyuki Kakinuma, Kaoru Kakinuma, Rora Okamoto, Kaoru Yanagida, Michitaka Ohwada, Nobuhiro Takeshima, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi 329-2763, Japan
Author contributions: Kakinuma T contributed to conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, original draft preparation, manuscript review and editing, visualization, supervision, and project administration; all authors contributed to formal analysis, investigation, resources, and data curation; all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patients for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare that they have no competing interests.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Toshiyuki Kakinuma, MD, PhD, Doctor, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, 537-3, Iguchi, Nasushiobara, Tochigi 329-2763, Japan. tokakinuma@gmail.com
Received: September 7, 2023
Peer-review started: September 7, 2023
First decision: December 18, 2023
Revised: December 27, 2023
Accepted: January 18, 2024
Article in press: January 18, 2024
Published online: February 16, 2024
Processing time: 146 Days and 3.1 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) is a minimally invasive treatment method for heavy menstrual bleeding. However, additional treatment is often required after recurrence of uterine myomas treated with MEA. Additionally, because this treatment ablates the endometrium, it is not indicated for patients planning to become pregnant. To overcome these issues, we devised a method for ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of uterine myoma feeder vessels. We report three patients successfully treated for heavy menstrual bleeding, secondary to uterine myoma, using our novel method.

CASE SUMMARY

All patients had a favorable postoperative course, were discharged within 4 h, and experienced no complications. Further, no postoperative recurrence of heavy menstrual bleeding was noted. Our method also reduced the myoma’s maximum diameter.

CONCLUSION

This method does not ablate the endometrium, suggesting its potential application in patients planning to become pregnant.

Keywords: Uterine myoma, Microwave, Heavy menstrual bleeding, Dysmenorrhea, Fertility preservation, Case report

Core Tip: Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of the uterine myoma does not ablate the uterine lining, suggesting the possibility of becoming a new treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding due to uterine fibroids for those who wish to conceive in the future.