Women whose fibroids have been treated by shutting off the blood supply to the benign tumors - a procedure called uterine artery embolization - can be reassured that the results are usually long lasting.

Uterine embolization is as durable as surgical removal of fibroids, according to a report at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology - but the report also suggests that women with large fibroids may not be good candidates for the procedure

Lead investigator Dr. James B. Spies, at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, said that 73 percent of the women treated with uterine embolization for fibroids reported symptom relief lasting for five years.

He said that for 20 percent of women the procedure failed or they had recurrent fibroids at 5 years. He said this rate is comparable to the 15 percent-to-50 percent rates of re-operation seen with surgery for fibroids.

Spies added, however, that the data indicate that women who start with a fibroid volume of more than 151.5 cubic centimeters “are likely to need additional interventions after one year.”

Of the 200 patients initially treated, 182 completed five years of follow-up. Outcomes were assessed by questionnaire, patient symptom scales and menstrual cycle regularity.