ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical value and the early therapeutic efficacy of hysteromyomas treated with the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by two-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound(2D-CEUS) and three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound(3D-CEUS). Methods A total of 90 patients with 150 hysteromyomas were treated with RFA, including 138 intramural myomas and 12 submucous myomas (in which 5 had micr-pedicles). 2D-CEUS and 3D-CEUS were performed within one day before and after RFA treatment, respectively. The blood supply of focal zone(FZ) was observed by 2D-CEUS and 3D-CEUS. The volume of hysteromyomas and the coagulation necrosis range were measured by 3D-CEUS. The average necrotic rates of hysteromyoma were calculated. Results The 5 submucous myomas with micr-pedicles were removed completely after the RFA treatment. The 2D-CEUS appearances of other 145 hysteromyomas were diverse after the RFA treatment, in which 137 FZs had no contrast infusion,indicating complete ablation, 8 FZs appeared peripheral linear or small flaky enhancement, considering incomplete treatment. The 3D-CEUS performances were variant too, in which 132 FZs vascular network displayed as a "cavity", indicating complete tumor necrosis, the other 7 FZs appeared "branch shape" low enhancement and another 6 FZs showed nonuniform low enhancement, considering residual tumor tissue. The average necrotic rate of the 139 hysteromyomas was (97.1 ± 12. 9)% ,another 6 hysteromyomas was only (46. 4 ± 7. 0) %. Conclusions 3D-CEUS can display vascular structure and spatial relationship of the hysteromyomas, which can be used as the complement of 2D-CEUS. The combination of the two techniques can evaluate the earlier therapeutic efficacy of hysteromyomas by RFA more timely, intuitively and accurately.