Glossary
Ablation
Surgical removal of a body part or tissue
ExAblate® 2000
The commercial name for the system that provides non-invasive treatment of the tumor using Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound technology. It received FDA approval in Oct. 2004
Hysterectomy
Surgical removal of the uterus
Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound
A non-invasive outpatient, surgical procedure that uses high intensity Focused Ultrasound waves to ablate (destroy) tissue in combination with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which guides and monitors the treatment
MRgFUS
Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A non-invasive imaging method using magnetic fields and radio waves to create images of the body
Myomectomy
Surgical excision of the tumor, leaving the healthy areas of the uterus in place
Hormonal therapy
A drug treatment used to treat some fibroids that causes fibroid shrinkage
Symptomatic uterine fibroids
Benign (non-cancerous) masses located in the uterus that cause any of the following symptoms, including heavy bleeding or painful periods; bleeding between periods; feeling “full” in the lower abdomen; frequent urination (resulting from a fibroid pressing on the bladder); bowel symptoms, pain during sex or lower back pain
Thermal ablation
Destruction of a body part or tissue using heat
Uterine artery embolization (UAE):
Blocking the blood vessels that supply the tumor by injecting small particles into the arteries feeding the uterus
Uterine fibroids
Benign (non-cancerous) masses located in the uterus or in the uterine wall
Ultrasound
High frequency sound waves (not audible to the human ear)
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