Clinical effectiveness and potential long-term benefits of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for patients with adenomyosis

OBJECTIVES: Adenomyosis is a common and refractory disease in gynecology. Preserving the uterus during treatment for adenomyosis remains a problem. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is widely used in treatment of solid tumors. This study aimed to analyze patients with adenomyosis who were treated by HIFU and to preliminarily examine the characteristics of patients who are more suitable for HIFU to treat adenomyosis with reliable efficacy. METHODS: Over 2 years, 67 women who were diagnosed with adenomyosis and treated with HIFU at our gynecology department were included in this study. We investigated outcomes of their symptoms (dysmenorrhea and hypermenorrhea) and the volume of their uterine lesions. We also compared the patients’ clinical profiles. RESULTS: The women had a mean follow-up duration of 11.6 ± 0.46 months. In the numerical rating scale, used to assess the degree of dysmenorrhea, the score was significantly lower (mean difference: −1.94, 95% confidence interval: −2.704 to −1.176) 3 months after HIFU treatment compared with before treatment, then it remained stable for 3 to 12 months. Hypermenorrhea was reduced to a certain degree, with a mean difference of −0.54 (−1.01–0.02). CONCLUSIONS: HIFU is a new noninvasive treatment method for adenomyosis that may help relieve dysmenorrhea.