title: Mitigation of abdominal scars during MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment of uterine leiomyomas with the use of an energy-blocking scar patch.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical potential of using an energy-blocking scar patch for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment of uterine leiomyomas in patients with abdominal scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, nonrandomized, single-arm study was conducted in 20 patients (mean age, 41.1 y; range, 33-51 y) with symptomatic leiomyomas (mean volume, 170 cm(3); range, 10-689 cm(3)) and abdominal scars (mean width, 3.3 mm; range, 1.5-8 mm; mean length, 131.6 mm; range, 86-178 mm) who underwent MRgFUS with an isolating patch covering the scar. Scar patches composed of US-blocking material were placed on patients' skin to cover the scar before treatment. Immediately after each treatment, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images were acquired, and the nonperfused volume (NPV) ratio was measured to determine the technical success of the treatment. Patients were followed for 3 months after treatment for any procedure-related adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All treatments were completed with no technical problems. No serious adverse events were reported during treatments and during 3 months of follow-up. The mean NPV ratio was 53.5% ± 21%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The scar patch provides an effective treatment option for patients with uterine leiomyomas and scars in the beam path, who were previously excluded from MRgFUS treatment as a result of an increased risk of skin burns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Sungnam, Republic of Korea. jansons@cha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Sang-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seok Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Sang-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Jong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D057086:High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*