title: A preliminary clinical study on high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for tubal pregnancy.
abstract: Our aim was to explore the clinical application value of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for tubal pregnancy. Forty hospitalized patients with tubal pregnancies (28 cases of non-ruptured tubal pregnancy and 12 cases of ruptured tubal pregnancy) were selected to receive HIFU therapy. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) concentrations were compared before and after treatment. Serum β-HCG was measured weekly and patients received observation only if the concentration decreased by 15% or more, compared with the previous value. Patients were given supplement HIFU therapy if the decrease in the serum β-HCG was <15% within two weeks. Ultrasound was used to detect the volume changes in the ectopic lesions before and after treatment, and changes in vital signs and complications were recorded. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was used to assess fallopian tube patency after treatment. HIFU treatment was successful in 33 of the 40 patients (82%). Seven patients failed HIFU treatment and received surgical therapy (18%). Before and after treatment, serum β-HCG concentrations and lesion volume were significantly different (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Post-treatment tubal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography showed tubal patency on the affected side in 21 cases (64%) at six months and in 27 cases (82%) at 12 months. In conclusion, HIFU is safe and effective, and can be a treatment option for tubal pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasonography, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province,  China.
authors.forename: G-B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: X-D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: L-W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: X-D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D005186:Fallopian Tube Patency Tests; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D057086:High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human