title: Efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for adenomyosis therapy and sexual life quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and sexual life quality outcomes of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablations for the treatment of patients with symptomatic adenomyosis and uterine volumes >200 cm(3).
  
  
  METHODS
  In our prospective clinical trial 47 patients with uterine volumes >200 cm(3) and symptomatic adenomyosis were treated with single treatment sessions of ultrasound-guided HIFU ablations. Beside uterus and adenomyosis lesion size reductions, outcome measures were symptom severity score (SSS), visual analogue scale (VAS) of dysmenorrhea, female sexual function index (FSFI) scores and the incidence of complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 47 patients, the adenomyosis lesions sizes were significantly reduced 12 months after the interventions (P<0.01). The SSS and dysmenorrhea VAS scores were significantly reduced 12 months after the interventions (P<0.01) and the FSFI scores gradually improved during 12 months after the HIFU ablations (P<0.001). No serious complication occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided HIFU ablation is a safe and effective noninvasive alternative for the treatment of uterine volumes >200 cm(3) with symptomatic adenomyosis. Particularly maintaining the integrity of patients' uteri leads to significant FSFI score improvements, which were essentially reduced before the HIFU treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine, Chongqing Medical University No. 1 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: HIFU Center of 1st Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University No. 1 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Jinyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Chongqing HIFU Hospital No. 1 Qing Song Road, New North Zone, Chongqing 400000, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Chongqing HIFU Hospital No. 1 Qing Song Road, New North Zone, Chongqing 400000, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Chongqing HIFU Hospital No. 1 Qing Song Road, New North Zone, Chongqing 400000, China.
authors.forename: Yongbin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Chongqing HIFU Hospital No. 1 Qing Song Road, New North Zone, Chongqing 400000, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine, Chongqing Medical University No. 1 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Zhibiao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: High-intensity focused ultrasound; adenomyosis; and dysmenorrhea; female sexual function index; symptom severity score