High-intensity focused ultrasound in breast pathology: non-invasive treatment of benign and malignant lesions

Expert Rev Med Devices. 2015 Mar;12(2):191-9. doi: 10.1586/17434440.2015.986096. Epub 2014 Nov 24.

Abstract

Breast neoplasms are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in women. Even if surgery is the treatment of choice, other forms of less invasive radical treatment are desirable. High-intensity focused ultrasound is already established as a valid non-invasive technique that ensures tumor ablation in various organs. The use of ultrasound or magnetic resonance guidance allows having some advantages such as the capability to treat tumors in moving organs or the possibility to have a real-time monitoring of the temperature increase. The aim of this paper is to report the use of high-intensity focused ultrasound technique with ultrasound and magnetic resonance guidance for the ablation of breast tumors, including both benign and malignant lesions.

Keywords: breast diseases; fibroadenoma; high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation; invasive ductal carcinoma; magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Female
  • High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography