What is ExAblate® 2000?

ExAblate® 2000 is a FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment for uterine fibroids. Developed in partnership with InSightec and General Electric, ExAblate uses Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound or MRgFUS.  MRI & Imaging of Georgia is the first in Georgia to offer this treatment.  The procedure is performed at its Midtown location at 600 West Peachtree Street.

How does ExAblate work?

The new technology uses highly focused ultrasound to ablate, or break apart, fibroid tumors.  The device works with a magnetic resonance, or MR, scanner to enable a physician to determine the level of heating and to monitor the progress of treatment during and after the procedure. It allows the physician to identify the three-dimensional images of the fibroid and surrounding organs with pinpoint precision and clearly distinguishes between treated and untreated tissue.

What are the benefits of ExAblate?

ExAblate is an alternative to surgery and expensive hormonal treatment. It is completely non-invasive, non-surgical and is performed in an outpatient setting. It also preserves the uterus and cervix, offering significant improvement in quality of life for patients, while decreasing menstrual bleeding and urinary dysfunction. Patients usually return to normal activity within two to three days.

What are fibroids and what are the symptoms?

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomata, are the most common non-cancerous tumors in women of childbearing age.  The tumors arise from muscle cells and other tissues within the wall of the uterus.  Fibroids can occur as individual tumors, or as clusters of tumors of varying sizes.   Symptoms of uterine fibroid tumors include: heavy bleeding or painful periods; bleeding between periods; feeling "full" in the lower abdomen; frequent urination (resulting from a fibroid pressing on the bladder); pain during sex; and lower back pain.

Who has the highest risk of developing fibroids?

Although the cause of uterine fibroids is still unknown, several factors have been found to increase or decrease the risk of developing them.  African-American women have a three to five times greater risk for developing uterine fibroids than Caucasian women.  Women who are obese or overweight have a slightly higher risk of developing uterine fibroids, while women who have given birth have a lower risk of developing uterine fibroids. 

Who is eligible for the treatment?

Not every patient is qualified for this treatment, and interested patients should seek the advice of their physicians.  Among other qualifications, ExAblate patients should have no more than six fibroids that are between two and ten centimeters in size.  These fibroids also must be located within 12 centimeters of the skin line.  Patients with uterine cancer, contraindications to MRI or who are pregnant are not qualified to undergo this treatment.  

What does a patient feel during the procedure?

Patients remain conscious during the procedure so they may communicate with the physician; however, they do receive mild sedation, so they are not fully alert during the treatment.  Many patients report a feeling of warmth in their abdomen during the procedure.

How long does the treatment last?

The treatment typically takes three to four hours, depending on the size of the targeted fibroid.

How long after the treatment until patients can return to normal activities?

Depending on initial symptoms, most patients find relief of their fibroid-related symptoms within three months, as shown by a clinical study conducted by InSightec.  In a 109-patient clinical trial, women returned to normal activities on average in less than three days, missing only 1.4 work days.  A recent clinical trial compared the results of ExAblate treatment with total abdominal hysterectomy.  Patients treated with ExAblate missed 1.4 working days, on average, compared to an average of 18 days for the hysterectomy group. They returned to normal activity in less than 3 days, compared to 17 days for the hysterectomy group.

Do uterine fibroids return after the treatment?

While the tumors that were treated will not re-grow, new or untreated fibroids may continue to grow.

Are there risks associated with this procedure?

As with any medical procedure, there are risks involved with the ExAblate treatment.  These risks include skin burns, back or leg pain, abdominal cramping, nausea, fever, vaginal discharge, and urinary tract infection.  There is a risk that the treatment may not be successful or that the treatment may be successful in reducing the symptoms from the fibroids that are treated, but at a later time, more fibroids may grow and require treatment.  This is true for all fibroid treatment alternatives, except hysterectomy.

Who performs the ExAblate treatment?

While the procedure is performed by interventional radiologists, patient care through the entire process is a joint effort between treating physicians.  Henry J. Krebs III, M.D. and Melissa W. Seely-Morgan, M.D., perform the ExAblate procedure for MRI & Imaging of Georgia.  Dr. Krebs is board certified by the American Board of Radiology with a certificate of added qualification in vascular and interventional radiology.  Dr. Seely-Morgan graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and completed her fellowship in Interventional Radiology at Emory University Hospital.

What are the alternatives to ExAblate 2000?

Treatment options for fibroids include hysterectomy, abdominal myomectomy, Laparoscopic or hysteroscopic myomectomy, uterine artery embolization and hormone therapy.

Is the treatment covered by insurance?

Now that the procedure is FDA approved, MRI & Imaging of Georgia is working to have the procedure covered by insurance. Until then, we will work with patients to create an affordable financing plan.  

What other applications are currently under clinical trials or research using the MRgFUS technology?

Clinical trials to verify the safety and efficacy of MRgFUS in breast fibroadenomas and breast cancer are currently underway.  Additional applications for the future may include treatment for brain tumors, and cancers of the liver, bone and prostate.

Who is MRI & Imaging of Georgia?

MRI & Imaging of Georgia has more than 20 facilities throughout Georgia that offer a variety of services including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Ultrasound, X-ray and Dexa (Bone Density).  MRI & Imaging of Georgia provides the best possible patient experience by offering patients comfort and quality in a friendly setting.  All of its radiologists are Board Certified, and it is a preferred provider with extensive managed care contracts.  For more information, please call 1-877-674-6342 or visit www.mriofGA.com

Who is MedQuest?

MRI & Imaging of Georgia is owned by MedQuest, Inc., a leading operator of independent outpatient diagnostic imaging facilities with a network of more than 90 imaging centers in 13 states.  Since 1993, MedQuest has provided patients with advanced diagnostic services to identify and diagnose a broad range of medical conditions.  Our expertly-trained staff is committed to treating each patient with the best quality care possible.  For more information, please visit www.mqimaging.com.

For more information contact:

For more information, please visit http://www.uterine-fibroids.org.