Non-surgical treatments
The mainstay of treatment for fibroids has in the past been open surgery, either hysterectomy or myomectomy (surgery to remove the fibroids leaving the normal parts of the uterus intact). These operations are performed by gynaecologists.
Over recent years newer non-surgical treatments have evolved many of which are performed by interventional radiologists. Interventional Radiology has developed as a speciality from the mid 1970s. Advances in scanning (ultrasound, CT and MRI) and medical device technologies over recent years have seen a huge increase in the scope and ability of Interventional Radiology to treat a wide variety of conditions including fibroids
Interventional Radiology is a medical speciality that uses the various imaging and scanning facilities available to offer a range of minimally invasive procedures which in many cases can replace conventional open surgery. Most of the procedures are done under local anaesthetic and can be done either as day case procedures or require only a very short hospital stay with rapid return to normal activities
At the Birmingham Fibroid Clinic we offer a full assessment and full range of treatment options with impartial advice on which is the best choice in any given circumstance. Dr. Crowe was the first to offer Uterine Artery Embolisation (UAE) for fibroids in the Midlands in 2000 and now has experience of several hundred cases. Working together Dr. Crowe and Miss Irani offer the full range of treatment options from both interventional radiology and gynaecology.
We are particularly excited to now extend our range of minimally invasive treatments to include MRI guided focused ultrasound ablation (MRgFUS) in association with our partner Nuffield Diagnostics. This cutting edge treatment is available in only a limited number of centres around the world and ours is the only MRgFUS treatment unit in the UK outside London.