High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and hypersplenism.

Abstract

3082 Background: Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) contributes to treatment dose delay and/or modification, often resulting in poorer survival and disease progression. Compared with partial splenic embolization (PSE) and drugs, high-intensity focused ultrasound has the advantages as following: (1) it is a noninvasive treatment modality with potentially fewer adverse effects and complications; (2) the hospital stay and recovery time after treatment are short; (3) its cost is relatively low compared to surgery. The purpose of this work was to preliminarily investigate the efficacy and safety of high intensity focused ultrasound treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) and hypersplenism. Methods: 26 patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and hypersplenism (15 male and 11 female; median age, 56 years; range, 51-66 years) were treated with ultrasound guided high-intensity focused ultrasound. Complications were recorded. Laboratory examination and magnetic resonance imaging were used to evaluate the efficacy. The spleen volume and ablation volume rate of the spleen were calculated by MRI after treatment. They were followed closely for at least 6 months. Results: After high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment, the MRI showed that the ablation area had turned into a non-perfused volume, the mean percent spleen ablation volume was 18.76% ± 6.1% (range, 11.17%-32.34%). After 6 months of HIFU ablation, the ablated area shrank evidently; the sunken spleen formed a lobulated shape and the splenic volume decreased. The platelet count increased 3-7 days after treatment and remained for 1-2weeks higher than baseline (53.33 ± 15.80 × 109/L). The white blood cell count and platelet count of the patients were substantially improved during the follow-up period. No substantial difference was observed in RBC counts between baseline and after treatment. In addition, symptoms such as epistaxis and gingival bleeding were ameliorated or even eliminated, and the quality of life was improved. Follow-up imaging showed a nonperfused volume in the spleen. Conclusions: For the first time to our knowledge, high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation was used to treat Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) and hypersplenism. High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of the spleen may cause damage to a certain volume of the spleen parenchyma to achieve the purpose of hypersplenism treatment. High intensity focused ultrasound may be an effective and safe alternative for treatment of CIT and hypersplenism.