title: CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation of osteoid osteoma in children: an initial study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation for osteoid osteoma in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. From January 2007 to July 2008, six children (four boys, two girls, mean age 12.6 years old) with osteoid osteoma were treated with CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation. The procedures were carried out under conscious sedation and local anesthesia. CT guidance was used for procedural planning, instrument guidance, and monitoring. An argon-based cryoablation system was used. Each cryoablation included two freezing-thawing cycles. Follow-up was performed to assess technical and clinical outcome for a minimum of 12 months. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess severity of pain pre- and post-procedure, and mean VAS for the group was compared pre- and post-procedure with a t-test. The mean clinical follow-up period was 28.7 months (ranging from 18 to 36 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryoablation was technically and clinically successful for all patients. No major immediate or delayed complications were observed. Significant pain relief (P <0.05) was observed in all patients after operation. Mean VAS were 6.57 ± 0.55 pre-procedure and 0.57 ± 0.10 1 month post-procedure. Patients were allowed to fully bear their weight and function without limitation within 3 days after the procedure. Pain recurrence was not observed in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous cryoablation is safe and effective for the treatment of osteoid osteomas in children. Notably, this procedure can be accomplished without general anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Fuxing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China. mikewubin@163.com
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yue-Yong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010017:Osteoma, Osteoid / Q000601:surgery*; D061214:Patient Safety; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome