Comparison of high-intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of internal and external adenomyosis based on magnetic resonance imaging classification

Abstract

Objective

To compare the safety and efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for patients with internal or external adenomyosis based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) classification.

Materials and methods

A total of 238 patients with internal adenomyosis and 167 patients with external adenomyosis who received HIFU treatment were enrolled. HIFU treatment results and adverse effects between patients with internal and external adenomyosis were compared.

Results

The treatment time and sonication time for patients with external adenomyosis were significantly longer than that for patients with internal adenomyosis. The total energy used and EEF for patients with external adenomyosis were higher than that for patients with internal adenomyosis (p < 0.05). The pre-HIFU median dysmenorrhea score in patients with internal or external adenomyosis was 5 or 8 points, the median score decreased to 1 or 3 points in these two groups at 18-month post-HIFU (p < 0.05). The relief rate of dysmenorrhea was 79.5% in patients with internal adenomyosis, and it was 80.8% in patients with external adenomyosis. The pre-HIFU median menorrhagia score in patients with internal or external adenomyosis was 4 or 3 points, the median score decreased to 1 point in both groups at 18-month post-HIFU with a relief rate of 86.2% and 77.1%, respectively (p = 0.030). No serious complication occurred in any of these patients.

Conclusions

HIFU is a safe and effective treatment either for patients with internal adenomyosis or external adenomyosis. It seemed that internal adenomyosis is easier to be treated with HIFU and with a higher relief rate of menorrhagia than external adenomyosis.

Keywords:

• Internal adenomyosis
• external adenomyosis
• dysmenorrhea
• menorrhagia
• high-intensity focused ultrasound

Disclosure statement

Lian Zhang and Zhibiao Wang are senior consultants to Chongqing Haifu. The other authors have no potential conflict of interest to declare. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.