Public goes ape over fibroid patient

Article

When Beta, a 46-year-old gorilla from the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, IL, underwent uterine artery embolization for fibroids, some people took exception to her exceptional care.

When Beta, a 46-year-old gorilla from the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, IL, underwent uterine artery embolization for fibroids, some people took exception to her exceptional care.

A posting on the Wall Street Journal's health blog scoffed at a gorilla getting top-notch medical care while many humans do not. Initially, Dr. Steven Smith, one of the interventional radiologists on Beta's team, defended the action, as everybody was involved voluntarily. But the comment forced him to ponder why a gorilla could get access to better treatment than some women with uterine fibroids.

He admits that UAE is not the right treatment for everyone, but he questions what appears to be strong resistance from gynecologists to considering the benefits of the minimally invasive procedure. Criticism aside, he admits IRs occasionally get referrals from gynecologists.

"Beta the gorilla was a referral from a gynecologist," he said.

Recent Videos
Improving Access to Nuclear Imaging: An Interview with SNMMI President Jean-Luc C. Urbain, MD, PhD
SNMMI: 18F-Piflufolastat PSMA PET/CT Offers High PPV for Local PCa Recurrence Regardless of PSA Level
SNMMI: NIH Researcher Discusses Potential of 18F-Fluciclovine for Multiple Myeloma Detection
SNMMI: What Tau PET Findings May Reveal About Modifiable Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease
Emerging Insights on the Use of FES PET for Women with Lobular Breast Cancer
Can Generative AI Reinvent Radiology Reporting?: An Interview with Samir Abboud, MD
Mammography Study Reveals Over Sixfold Higher Risk of Advanced Cancer Presentation with Symptom-Detected Cancers
Combining Advances in Computed Tomography Angiography with AI to Enhance Preventive Care
Study: MRI-Based AI Enhances Detection of Seminal Vesicle Invasion in Prostate Cancer
What New Research Reveals About the Impact of AI and DBT Screening: An Interview with Manisha Bahl, MD
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.