Uterine Fibroids: Embolization and Other Treatment Approaches »

Compares conventional surgical treatments for uterine fibroids with the emergence of uterine artery embolization.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Boyd M. Helm, BGS, MD(University of Colorado Health Sciences Center)
Description:This concise yet surprisingly thorough book covers all clinically relevant aspects of fibroid disease from epidemiology to present and future avenues of treatment.
Purpose:The primary objective is to educate the reader about existing therapies for fibroid disease with an emphasis on uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) as it compares to more traditional surgical and medical treatments. The differences between these therapies are clinically relevant and essential for the physician in recommending the most appropriate therapy for the individual patient. Readers will find that the objectives were accomplished. In addition, complete discussions of other important aspects of fibroid disease such as symptomatology and diagnostic imaging are provided using a sensible format.
Audience:The author's intention is to provide a book that is pertinent and helpful for the gynecologist, radiologist, general practitioner and/or student. While I agree that the book will certainly be useful for all of the above, its usefulness for the gynecologic surgeon will be limited in that minimal detail regarding surgical technique is provided. It also does not serve as a surgical atlas. There is, however, more detail for the interventionalist regarding UFE.
Features:This book is concise and a relatively quick read, although it provides a complete discussion of the topic. It provides an overview of all therapies with detailed discussion of UFE therapy. The chapters covering imaging, epidemiology and symptomatology are also excellent. The one shortcoming is the paucity of anatomical photographs and diagrams.
Assessment:This is excellent both as a general text and also as a quick reference on the subject of uterine fibroids for any clinician. It is the only general book that I've seen which provides detailed information regarding UFE.