High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Treatment of Abdominal Wall Endometriosis

Abstract

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation therapy for abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE). DesignA retrospective study. SettingGynecologic department of a teaching hospital in China. PatientsThirty patients with AWE were treated from May 2013 to December 2015. InterventionsThirteen patients were treated with HIFU ablation and 17 patients with surgical resection. Measurements and Main ResultsColor Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to observe the lesions before and after treatment. In addition, recovery time, complications, and adverse reactions of the 2 groups were compared. Menstrual pain was relieved after treatment in all 30 patients. After treatment, the lesions in patients who underwent HIFU ablation decreased gradually, and there was no recurrence. Symptoms recurred in 1 patient in the surgery group 12 months after surgery. The post-treatment hospital length of stay of the HIFU ablation group (1.00 ± 0 days) was significantly shorter than that of the surgical group (5.23 ± 1.24 days; p <.001). The incidence of fever (0% vs 11.8%; p = .049) and complications of the urinary system (7.7% vs 17.6%; p = .043) in the HIFU ablation group were significantly lower than that of the surgical group. ConclusionsHIFU ablation therapy is a promising treatment for AWE, and further study is warranted.