NEWS OF THE DAY News 13. New Alternative of Uterine Fibroid - Fibroid Embolization

[NUKE209]

[NEW WORDS]

  ♧ fibroid : (병리) 섬유종

  ♧ tumor : n. 종양

  ♧ uterus : n. 자궁

  ♧ radical : a. 극단적인, 철저한

  ♧ hysterectomy : n. 자궁적출술

  ♧ uterine fibroid embolization : n. 자궁 섬유종 색전술

  ♧ gynecologist : n. 부인과 의사

  ♧ partial (to) : 유달리 좋아하는

  ♧ alternative : a. 대체의, 대안의, 양자 택일의   -n. 양자택일, 대체, 대안

  ♧ radiologist : n. 방사선 의사, 방사능 연구자

  ♧ pellet : n. 작은 환약, 작은 탄알, 쥐똥

  ♧ catheter : n. 도뇨관(導尿管)

  ♧ groin : n. 사타구니

  ♧ shrink : v. 줄어들다, 오그라들다

  ♧ interventional : n. 중재의, 개입의, 간섭의

  ♧ MRI : Magnetic Resonance Imaging(자기(磁氣) 공명 영상법)

News 13. New Alternative of Uterine Fibroid - Fibroid Embolization

  We're going to take a closer look tonight at a new technique that may help women with fibroids avoid surgery. Every year, more than a million women are diagnosed with fibroid tumors, which attach themselves to the uterus. Last year, more than 200,000 women had a fairly radical surgical procedure called a hysterectomy, which deals with fibroids by removing the entire uterus. But now there's a new procedure called fibroid embolization.

  Elyse Fine has a uterine fibroid that causes heavy bleeding. Her gynecologist told her she needs a hysterectomy. But Elyse objected.

  "I said that I'm pretty partial to my body parts, and I'd like to keep them."

  The new alternative, fibroid embolization, is typically performed by a radiologist. Tiny pellets are injected into a catheter inserted near the groin that is guided up to the uterine arteries. The pellets stop the flow of blood to the fibroid tumors, causing them to shrink and die. Dr. Neil Khilnani, an interventional radiologist at Cornell University Medical College, has been doing embolization for six years.

  "We've learned who is a good candidate and who is not a good candidate. And we find that 90 percent of patients with significant symptoms do improve after the embolization."

  Elyse turns out to be a good candidate due to the location of her fibroid. Once Dr. Khilnani charts his course with MRI images, he injects the pellets, blocking off the blood supply to the fibroid like a cork. Once that happens, the fibroid will start to shirink, typically 50 to 70 percent after just a few months. The pellets are made out of a plastic similar to contact lenses and stay in the artery permanently. Elyse had the procedure on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday.

  "I feel great. Feel fine. Other than a little bit of pain the first weekend, I was back to work Monday and back running on Thursday."

  Embolization is now covered by most insurance companies, but fewer than 15,000 procedures were performed last year. Doctors say many more women should take advantage of fibroid embolization.