Clinical significance of performing Sonazoid-based contrast-enhanced ultrasonography before ablation of uterine fibroids by high-intensity focused ultrasound

Abstract

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is effective for the ablation of uterine fibroids. However, no research has indicated whether HIFU ablation of uterine fibroids might be improved by application of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid as a contrast agent. This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of Sonazoid-based CEUS 30 minute before HIFU ablation of uterine fibroids. This retrospective cohort study included Asian patients with solitary uterine fibroids who were treated with HIFU at Seoul HICARE Clinic (South Korea; n = 34) and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (China; n = 30) between August 1, 2017, and October 31, 2017. The patients in Seoul underwent Sonazoid-based CEUS 30 minute before HIFU. All the patients received contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose uterine fibroids. The ablation results were evaluated 1 day after HIFU by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging or Sonazoid-based CEUS. All the patients were successfully treated with HIFU. The CEUS+HIFU group had lower values for sonication power, treatment time, sonication time, total energy applied, and energy efficiency factor compared with HIFU alone group (P < .001). There were no major adverse events after ablation therapy in either group. The incidence of post-procedure sacrococcygeal pain was lower in the CEUS+HIFU group than that in the HIFU alone group (P = .045), while the incidences of all other intraoperative and postoperative adverse events were similar between the 2 groups. Our findings suggest that Sonazoid-based CEUS before HIFU may enhance the ablation of uterine fibroids.

The evaluation through contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography for high‐intensity focused ultrasound ablation treatment of uterine fibroids

“…We read with great interest the article "Application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the treatment of uterine fibroids by high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation: A retrospective study". 1 The article studied on the effectivity of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation treatment and the relationship between CEUS features and ablation rate was analyzed. The article included 64 patients with UFs who underwent HIFU ablation treatment and CEUS before and after the treatment.…”