Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography before and after fibroid embolization.

Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography was performed within 1 hour, 1 day, 3 months, and 6 months of fibroid embolization in 20 patients who had a total of 31 fibroids greater than 2 cm in average dimension. The greatest decrease in vascularity occurred 1 day after the procedure, whereas the greatest volume change was found at the 3 month follow-up examination. In about one half of the patients scanned, depiction of fibroid vascularity by color Doppler sonography was found to improve the delineation of the size, location, and extent of myometrial involvement. Hypervascular fibroids (12 of 31) tended to decrease in size after treatment more than isovascular (10 of 31) or hypovascular ones (9 of 31). Additional investigations that are similar to this one will be needed to determine if three-dimensional color Doppler sonography can be used to predict those who will be responders, partial responders, or nonresponders to embolotherapy.