Magnetic Resonance Imaging–guided Volumetric Ablation of
Symptomatic Leiomyomata: Correlation of Imaging with
Histology
Aradhana M. Venkatesan, MD, Ari Partanen, MSc, Tajana Klepac Pulanic, MD, Matthew R.
Dreher, PhD, John Fischer, MD, Robert K. Zurawin, MD, Raja Muthupillai, PhD, Sham
Sokka, PhD, Heikki J. Nieminen, PhD, Ninet Sinaii, PhD, MPH, Maria Merino, MD, Bradford
J. Wood, MD, and Pamela Stratton, MD
Radiology and Imaging Sciences (A.M.V., M.R.D., B.J.W.), NIH Center for Interventional
Oncology, 10 Center Drive, Bldg 10, Rm 1C369, MSC 1182, Bethesda, MD 20892; Philips
Medical Systems (A.P.), Cleveland, Ohio; Department of Physics (A.P.), University of Helsinki,
Helsinki, Finland; Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology Branch (T.K.P., P.S.),
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda,
Maryland; Department of Radiology (J.F., R.K.Z., R.M.), St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Houston,
Texas; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.K.Z.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,
Texas; Philips Medical Systems (S.S., H.J.N.), Vantaa, Finland; Biostatistics and Clinical
Epidemiology Service (N.S.), NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; and Translational Surgical
Pathology (M.M.), Surgical Pathology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Abstract
Purpose—To describe the preliminary safety and accuracy of a magnetic resonance (MR)
imaging– guided high-intensity–focused ultrasound (HIFU) system employing new technical
developments, including ablation control via volumetric thermal feedback, for the treatment of
uterine leiomyomata with histopathologic correlation.
Materials and Methods—In this phase I clinical trial, 11 women underwent MR-guided HIFU
ablation (Sonalleve 1.5T; Philips Medical Systems, Vantaa, Finland), followed by hysterectomy
within 30 days. Adverse events, imaging findings, and pathologic confirmation of ablation were
assessed. The relationship between MR imaging findings, thermal dose estimates, and pathology
and HIFU spatial accuracy were assessed using Bland-Altman analyses and intraclass correlations.
Results—There were 12 leiomyomata treated. No serious adverse events were observed. Two
subjects decided against having hysterectomy and withdrew from the study before surgery. Of 11
women, 9 underwent hysterectomy; all leiomyomata demonstrated treatment in the expected
location. A mean ablation volume of 6.92 cm
3
± 10.7 was observed at histopathologic
examination. No significant differences between MR imaging nonperfused volumes, thermal dose
estimates, and histopathology ablation volumes were observed (P > .05). Mean misregistration
values perpendicular to the ultrasound beam axis were 0.8 mm ± 1.2 in feet-head direction and 0.1
mm ± 1.0 in and left-right direction and -0.7 mm ± 3.1 along the axis.
© SIR, 2012
Address correspondence to A.M.V.; VenkatesanA@cc.nih.gov.
The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor
does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
None of the other authors have identified a conflict of interest.
NIH Public Access
Author Manuscript
J Vasc Interv Radiol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2012 October 02.
Published in final edited form as:
J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2012 June ; 23(6): 786–794.e4. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2012.02.015.
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