Dr. LeBlang describes the complications associated with Magnetic Resonance (MR) guided Focused Ultrasound for uterine fibroids.
Dr. LeBlang:
There is a chance of complications during the MR guided Focused Ultrasound procedure. Any time anything is done to your body there’s a chance of complications. Some of the complications that have been reported are mild, temporary sciatica, where patients have pain going down the backs of one of their legs for a short time. Other possibilities include minor skin burns.
If the patients have had prior surgery to the pelvic region, there is a chance that the scar could heat up during the procedure and cause minor blistering. It’s important that the person performing the procedure not place the patient’s scar in the beam path to avoid this complication.
There have been two reported cases of major abdominal skin burns with this procedure. One of them was reported in a patient that had a previous liposuction, and this is believed to occur because the scar tissue is underneath the skin throughout the abdominal wall where the liposuction was performed. The other case was performed in Europe for unknown reasons.
About Dr. LeBlang, M.D.:
Dr. Suzanne LeBlang, M.D., specializes in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) applications. She is an American trained and Board Certified radiologist with an added certification in neuroradiology. Dr. LeBlang performed the first FDA-approved MRgFUS (Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound) case in the U.S., the only non-invasive procedure for the treatment of uterine fibroids, and has, as a single operator, done the most procedures in the country to date. She has extensive experience in treating fibroids including working with very complex fibroid cases.