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

PURPOSE: Desmoids are locally infiltrative, nonmalignant soft tissue tumors. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy have been the mainstay of treatment, but relapse is common and side effects can result in significant morbidity. MR-HIFU is increasingly recognized as an alternative treatment modality. We assessed the success rate of MR-HIFU for the treatment of extra-abdominal desmoids at our institute.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

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. Changes in total tumor volumes were measured with a tumor tracking software. Adverse events were documented.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSION

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.