How do I know if I am eligible for treatment?
Ask your physician if you are a candidate. He or she will be able to tell you if you are a suitable candidate for the ExAblate treatment. In general, people who cannot go into an MRI will not be able to have the ExAblate treatment – this includes patients with metallic implants, patients who are claustrophobic, and patients who are allergic to contrast agent, a dye used to see blood vessels during MR imaging. ExAblate treatment is not intended for women who are pregnant or desire future pregnancy. The effects of ExAblate on the ability to become pregnant and carry a fetus to term, and on the development of the fetus, have not yet been determined.
Your physician will determine if your fibroids are suitable for treatment. During your gynecological examination, your doctor will check the size of your uterus. If it feels enlarged, your doctor may order an abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound or a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging session, which can confirm the presence, location and size of fibroids. After identifying the size and location of your fibroids, and possibly after other diagnostic tests, your doctor may be able to rule out other conditions, advise you of your options and recommend a course of treatment for fibroids.
ExAblate can be used for submucosal, subserosal, and intramural uterine fibroids. These are terms that are used to describe the location of the fibroid within the uterus. More than one fibroid can be treated. Fibroids that are pedunculated (hanging from a stalk), in close proximity to sensitive organs (such as bowel or bladder), or in a location inaccessible by the focused ultrasound may be untreatable.
