Gaps in community-awareness of uterine fibroid embolization in a uterine fibroid-endemic population

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

4:21 PM – 4:30 PM

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 221C

Presenting Author(s)

Priya Gupta, MBS (she/her/hers)

Medical Student
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Author/Co-author(s)

LM

Laura Marrone, BA

Medical Student
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
BC

Bryan Cabezas, BA

Medical Student
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Cheryl Hou, MD

Radiology Resident
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Xiaoni Zhao, MS

Medical Student
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Abhishek Kumar, MD

Division Chief of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Pratik A. Shukla, MD

Director and Associate Professor of Interventional Radiology
Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School

Disclosure(s):

Priya Gupta, MBS: No financial relationships to disclose

Abhishek Kumar, MD: Boston Scientific: Consultant (Ongoing), Speaking and Teaching (Ongoing); NAKI Therapeuatics: Advisory Committee or Review Panel Member (Ongoing)

Pratik A. Shukla, MD: No relevant disclosure to display

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze treatment options for symptomatic uterine fibroids offered to an endemic female urban population who, ultimately, underwent hysterectomy. To determine the degree of community-level awareness of a minimally invasive treatment option– uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).

Materials and Methods: CT/MR scans performed at an urban tertiary-care hospital from 2021-2022 were reviewed for female patients status post-hysterectomy. 111 participants were deemed eligible based on imaging findings and clinical history of hysterectomy and uterine fibroids per available records. Patients were invited to complete a 7-question verbal survey via telephone regarding their history of uterine fibroid including treatments offered and completed. If the participant was offered a UFE but opted out, the reason was investigated. 24 participants completed the survey.

Results: 11/24 (45.8%) participants identified as Black/African American and 9/24 (37.5%) identified as Hispanic/Latina. Hysterectomy procedures occurred from 1998 to 2021. Prior to hysterectomy, 5 participants utilized medications (i.e., oral contraceptive pills, intramuscular hormones, etc.) and 3 underwent myomectomy. 3/24 (12.5%) participants reported that UFE was offered, though these patients opted for hysterectomy, citing reasons including fibroid size, risk of recurrence, and coagulopathy. 18/24 (87.5%) respondents stated that hysterectomy was presented as their only option for symptomatic relief.

Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that among populations with a high prevalence of uterine fibroid prevalence (i.e., in patients self-identifying as Black/African American or Hispanic/Latina), knowledge of UFE is considerably low. This may reflect the narrow range of treatment options offered to patients. Increased patient education and health empowerment are required to bridge this potential gap.