title: Management of venous malformations with percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple treatment options exist for venous malformations (VMs), but each treatment has its own deficiencies. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging technology which may be an effective new technique for treatment of VMs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of RFA on VMs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed patients treated with RFA for VM followed by a blinded retrospective analysis of serial photographs taken during the course of their therapy. Questionnaires were used to evaluate perceived therapeutic response and complications of this treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients with complete data and photographic documentation were involved in this study. Complete resolution (> 90%) was obtained in two patients. Significant improvement (75-90%) of the treated lesion occurred in eight patients. Moderate improvement (50-75%) was obtained in one patient and little improvement in three patients. Two patients had no response. Most VMs improved, with a mean ± SD size change score of 2·6 ± 1·3 and overall score of 5·1 ± 2·4. No serious complication was observed in any of our patients and no evidence of recurrence was observed in any case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous RFA, as a minimally invasive and safe treatment, may provide an alternative treatment for VM and other skin diseases. There should be a randomized trial undertaken, comparing RFA with other treatments, to assess outcome.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medical Center, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Suo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000601:surgery*; D014680:Veins; D055815:Young Adult