Mitigation of abdominal scars during MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment of uterine leiomyomas with the use of an energy-blocking scar patch.

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical potential of using an energy-blocking scar patch for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment of uterine leiomyomas in patients with abdominal scars.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective, nonrandomized, single-arm study was conducted in 20 patients (mean age, 41.1 y; range, 33-51 y) with symptomatic leiomyomas (mean volume, 170 cm(3); range, 10-689 cm(3)) and abdominal scars (mean width, 3.3 mm; range, 1.5-8 mm; mean length, 131.6 mm; range, 86-178 mm) who underwent MRgFUS with an isolating patch covering the scar. Scar patches composed of US-blocking material were placed on patients' skin to cover the scar before treatment. Immediately after each treatment, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images were acquired, and the nonperfused volume (NPV) ratio was measured to determine the technical success of the treatment. Patients were followed for 3 months after treatment for any procedure-related adverse events.

RESULTS

All treatments were completed with no technical problems. No serious adverse events were reported during treatments and during 3 months of follow-up. The mean NPV ratio was 53.5% ± 21%.

CONCLUSIONS

The scar patch provides an effective treatment option for patients with uterine leiomyomas and scars in the beam path, who were previously excluded from MRgFUS treatment as a result of an increased risk of skin burns.