Ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment for abdominal wall endometriosis: a retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) for treating abdominal wall endometrioses (AWE).
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in China.
Population: Patients with abdominal wall endometriosis.
Methods: From August 2010 to April 2014, 32 patients with AWE were treated with USgHIFU in our hospital. USgHIFU treatment was performed with the Model JC-200 High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Tumor Therapeutic System. The symptom relief and the adverse effects were evaluated after USgHIFU ablation.
Main Outcome Measures: USgHIFU as a new treatment option for patients with AWE.
Results: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed that all lesions were successfully ablated with USgHIFU. The follow-up results showed that the average volume of AWE lesions at 6 months after USgHIFU was significantly smaller than that before treatment (2.80 ± 0.12 versus 1.33 ± 0.31 cm ³ ). The pain scores at 6 months after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (6.80 ± 2.64 versus 1.80 ± 0.3). The non-perfused volume (indicative of successful ablation) was measured in all patients immediately after treatment, ranging from 0.9 to 2.1 cm ³ (median: 1.6 cm ³ ), and the fractional ablation ranged from 87% to 100% (median: 94%). Local oedema was observed in these patients, lasting for 1-3 days only. No severe complications occurred during the follow-up period.
Conclusions: Based on our study, USgHIFU ablation is a safe and effective method for treating AWE.
Tweetable Abstract: As a non-invasive treatment technique, HIFU could be used to treat abdominal wall endometriosis.
(© 2017 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)