Long-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of breast fibroadenoma.
BACKGROUND
To assess the long term efficacy and tolerability of one or two ultrasound (US)-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment in patients with breast fibroadenoma (FA).


METHODS
Twenty patients with 26 FA were selected for US-guided HIFU. The therapy was performed in one or two sessions. FA volume was assessed before and followed up to 24 months after the last HIFU. After each treatment, adverse events were evaluated.


RESULTS
In 19/26 FA (73.1%) one HIFU was performed (group 1), whereas 7/26 FA (26.9%) received second HIFU (group 2) 6-9 months (median, 7 months) after the first session. In group 1 and 2, FA volume decreased significantly at 1-month (p< 0.001) and 3-month follow-up (p= 0.005), respectively, and continued to reduce until 24-month follow-up (p< 0.001 andp= 0.003, respectively). At 24 months, mean volume reduction was 77.32% in group 1 and 90.47% in group 2 (p= 0.025). Mild subcutaneous edema was observed in 4 patients and skin erythema in 3 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
US-guided HIFU represents a promising non-invasive method with sustainable FA volume reduction and patient's tolerability. Although one treatment is highly efficient, the volume reduction can be increased with second treatment.


BACKGROUND
NCT01331954. Registered 07 April 2011.
Department of Thyroid and Metabolic Bone Disorders, University Hospital of Endocrinology, Medical University of Sofia, 2, Zdrave Street, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Roussanka
0000-0003-1894-8433
R
Kovatcheva
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Katja
K
Zaletel
Department of Thyroid and Metabolic Bone Disorders, University Hospital of Endocrinology, Medical University of Sofia, 2, Zdrave Street, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Jordan
J
Vlahov
Department of Endocrine Surgery, University Hospital of Endocrinology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Julian
J
Stoinov
Ablation techniques; Breast fibroadenoma; High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU); Interventional ultrasonography; Ultrasound (US) guidance