The Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Royal Philips Electronics, and InSightec Ltd announced that they are collaborating with clinicians in the field to support the establishment of a multicenter registry to evaluate MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment for uterine fibroids (also known as uterine leiomyomas).

The international registry, titled RELIEF (REgistry for Leiomyoma: International Efficacy of Focused Ultrasound) will start in the second half of 2013. Over a three-year period, the registry will collect data from 1,000 women treated with focused ultrasound. The resulting database is intended to provide large-scale evidence on safety, efficacy, and long-term durability of this novel treatment for uterine fibroids to facilitate reimbursement and drive rapid physician acceptance. More than 30 leading treatment sites will participate in the studies. Furthermore, all active MR-guided focused ultrasound sites are welcome to participate.

To find out more about RELIEF, visit www.fibroidrelief.org/registry.