Ultrasound imaging guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) may be a safe tool to ablate uterine myoma / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: to test the safety of ultrasound imaging guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to ablate uterine myoma. METHODS: From September 2008 to February 2009, patients with dysmenorrhea and/or menorrhagia for uterine myomas had been enrolled. HIFU ablation was performed at 1 MHz. 400 W/cm2 of pulses were delivered for 150 m second with 150 m second interval at the target point for 70 cycles. This process was repeated on a point by point basis. After one slice was treated, the target was shifted 4 mm laterally. If patient were complaining of pain, the procedures were stopped for a while. RESULTS: The distribution of age was 29~48 years old, and of longest diameter was 36.0~115.0 mm, and of target distance from skin was 55~100 mm, and of number of treatment was 2~6. Nobody gave up the procedure for pain or any other reason. The procedures took 40 to 60 minutes for a slice. One or three slices were treated in a day. All patients went home after HIFU without medication. Nobody reported any clinically severe complications. Everybody returned to normal activities 1 day after the procedure. Nobody complained of vaginal spotting after one cycle of menstruation. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound imaging-guided HIFU treatment appears to be safe to ablate the uterine myomas.