New Study: MR-HIFU Effectively Destroys Osteoid Osteoma

A new clinical trial has shown how a bone tumor known as osteoid osteoma can be safely and successfully treated using an incisionless surgery method called magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU).

Physicians from the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C. have published their work, “Comparison of Noninvasive High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound with Radiofrequency Ablation of Osteoid Osteoma,” in the August 17, 2017 edition of The Journal of Pediatrics.

According to an August 24, 2017 Children’s National news release, “…the study compares nine patients, ages 6 to 16 years old, who were treated for osteoid osteoma using MR-HIFU with a nine-patient historical control group, ages 6 to 10 years old, who were treated at Children’s National using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) surgery, the standard treatment at most U.S. hospitals. The study results show that treatment using MR-HIFU is feasible and safe for patients, eliminating the incisions or exposure to ionizing radiation that is associated with the RFA procedure…”

“High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy uses focused sound wave energy to heat and destroy the targeted tumor under MRI guidance. This precise and controlled method does not require a scalpel or needle, greatly reducing the risk of complications like infections and bone fractures. It is also a faster treatment option, with expected total procedure time of 90 minutes or less. In the U.S., MR-HIFU is used to treat uterine fibroids and painful bone metastases from several types of cancer in adults, but has not previously been used in children.”

Karun Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., director of Interventional Radiology at Children’s National, was the principal investigator for the osteoid osteoma trial. Dr. Sharma told OTW, “Our early results demonstrate that MR-HIFU ablation for painful osteoid osteoma is a completely noninvasive treatment option with clinical improvement similar to CT-guided radiofrequency ablation. It also appears that pain relief and quality of life improvement is similar to treatment with radiofrequency ablation—the current gold standard treatment.”

“We would like orthopedic surgeons to know that MRI guided HIFU (MR-HIFU) is a completely non-invasive and radiation free treatment option for patients with osteoid osteoma. It may offer the same clinical results as radiofrequency ablation—the current gold standard treatment. In the future, this focused ultrasound treatment may also be used for other painful bone lesions as well.”