Mid-term results of MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment for relapsing superficial desmoids

Summary

We assessed the success rate of MR-HIFU for the treatment of extra-abdominal desmoids at our institute. Five patients with relapsing desmoid tumors (three males, two females; age range 40-79 years) were treated using the Sonalleve system in an outpatient setting without general anesthesia. MR-HIFU was successful in all patients without severe side effects. Follow up ranged from 13 to 60 months. Three patients required more than one treatment session. In 3 patients with small lesions (mean = 9.7 mL), complete ablation was achieved with no evidence of viable tumor on follow up MRI at an average of 35.7 months, while in two patients with larger lesions (mean = 46 mL) the targeted tumor volumes decreased by 73% at 14 months. Skin injuries comprised first- and second-degree burns and were observed with short distance to skin (mean = 0.9 cm) and proximity to bone (i.e. ribs). Skin burns healed within weeks with topical treatment. MR-HIFU shows good mid-term result for extra-abdominal desmoids with complete response for small lesions and stabilization of larger lesions. MR-HIFU for desmoids can be performed under regional anesthesia/sedation as outpatients.