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Welcome to Uterinefibroid.com
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Physician Profile
Sydney S. Yoon, MD, director of interventional radiology, completed his fellowship training at UCLA Medical Center with Scott Goodwin, MD who introduced fibroid embolization to the United States. Dr. Yoon has extensive experience in fibroid embolization and in other vascular and interventional procedures. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago, completed his radiology residency at UCLA Medical Center and his medicine residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Yoon is board certified in vascular & interventional radiology, diagnostic radiology and medicine, and is cited in the "Best Doctors" issue in New York Magazine and in Castle Connolly's, "America's Top Doctors" and "Top Doctors-New York Metro Area". Kenneth Richman, MD, interventional radiologist, has extensive experience in vascular and interventional radiology. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College and completed his radiology residency at Winthrop University Hospital. Dr. Richman is board certified in vascular and interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology.
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 | INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGISTS:
Sydney S. Yoon, MD (516)632-3047 Kenneth Richman, MD (516)632-3047 Department of Radiology South Nassau Communities Hospital One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 | | | Introduction
Uterine fibroids are benign growths that develop in the uterine wall. While many fibroids cause no symptoms, some can cause symptoms such as heavy and painful periods as well as urinary frequency and urgency. 20 to 40% of women age 35 and over have fibroids. The fibroids are diagnosed by physical exam and confirmed by ultrasound or MRI. Fibroids which cause symptoms can be treated medically. Those patients whose symptoms are not relieved by medical therapy have additional therapeutic options, consisting of surgery and fibroid embolization. | | | Fibroid embolization
Fibroid embolization, also known as uterine artery embolization, is a highly effective, safe and nonsurgical method of treating symptomatic fibroids. The procedure was first reported in the United States by Scott Goodwin, MD at UCLA Medical Center in 1997. While embolization of uterine fibroids has been performed in the United States since 1997, uterine artery embolization is not new. The procedure has been performed for over 30 years to treat heavy bleeding after childbirth or following motor vehicle accidents. As of 2004, over 50,000 fibroid embolizations have been performed worldwide.
Effectiveness: Studies show that up to 88% of women have significant or complete relief of symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, cramping, urinary pressure or frequency, and abdominal and pelvic distension. The procedure works regardless of the size or number of fibroids. The average shrinkage in fibroid is 20% after 2 months and 60% after 1 year.
Safety: Fibroid embolization is a safe procedure. Serious complications such as infection or uterine injury requiring hysterectomy occur in less than 1% of patients. The complication rates are significantly less than that for hysterectomy or myomectomy. All devices, equipment and medications used for fibroid embolization are within FDA guidelines. The particles used for embolization, polyvinyl alcholol, is a standard agent for medical embolizations with a firmly established safety record. The xray fluoroscopy time is generally less than 10 minutes, on par with other angiographic procedures such as cardiac catherizations.
Nonsurgical: The procedure is performed through a 2mm skin puncture, not an incision. Because of the small size of the puncture, no visible mark is left on the skin after two weeks. No scarring occurs. Under xray guidance, a less than 2mm in diameter catheter is guided to the artery supplying the fibroid [uterine artery]. After confirming the position of the catheter, tiny gelatin particles are injected into the artery. This stops the blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink. After an overnight stay in the hospital, patients go home and are back to work in 1 to 2 weeks.
Insurance: Most insurances cover uterine fibroid embolization. |
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