title: Clinical responses to focused ultrasound applied to women with vulval intraepithelial neoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Focused ultrasound waves penetrate superficial tissues and are aimed toward the target tissues at specific depths to exert their biological effects. Focused ultrasound has been applied for a number of clinical indications, including vulval dystrophies and low-grade vulval disease. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of focused ultrasound treatment of high-grade vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen women with high-grade VIN were recruited and treated with focused ultrasound. During each posttreatment follow-up, the safety of, side effects of, and clinical responses to focused ultrasound were evaluated by a standardized protocol, including symptoms, clinical appearance, and histologic findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients completed the designed follow-ups. In most cases, superficial mild to moderate swelling and blisters were seen in the focused ultrasound-treated skin but not in adjacent normal skin. Of the 18 patients, 16 showed complete histologic regression and resolution of symptoms 6 months after treatment. Of the other 2 patients, 1 showed complete regression after a second focused ultrasound treatment. The other patient did not respond to the focused ultrasound treatment and underwent a partial vulvectomy 6 months after treatment. None of the patients developed invasive carcinoma of the vulva during the follow-up period. One patient had local pruritus that was not alleviated by anti-inflammatory medication and local care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The complete responses observed in women with high-grade VIN treated by focused ultrasound, together with the preservation of adjacent normal tissue, suggest that focused ultrasound may be considered for treatment of high-grade VIN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Y.J., J.W., L.T., M.Lu., M.Lo.); and Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine (M.X.), and Biomedical Engineering College (C.L.), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Y.J., J.W., L.T., M.Lu., M.Lo.); and Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine (M.X.), and Biomedical Engineering College (C.L.), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Y.J., J.W., L.T., M.Lu., M.Lo.); and Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine (M.X.), and Biomedical Engineering College (C.L.), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Y.J., J.W., L.T., M.Lu., M.Lo.); and Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine (M.X.), and Biomedical Engineering College (C.L.), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. 617418550@qq.com.
authors.forename: Liangdan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Y.J., J.W., L.T., M.Lu., M.Lo.); and Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine (M.X.), and Biomedical Engineering College (C.L.), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Chengzhi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Y.J., J.W., L.T., M.Lu., M.Lo.); and Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine (M.X.), and Biomedical Engineering College (C.L.), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Y.J., J.W., L.T., M.Lu., M.Lo.); and Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine (M.X.), and Biomedical Engineering College (C.L.), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ; D005260:Female; D057086:High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: efficacy; focused ultrasound; local treatment; safety; vulval intraepithelial neoplasia