MRI-guided percutaneous cryotherapy for soft-tissue and bone metastases: initial experience

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Metastatic lesions in soft tissue and bone often occur near critical structures, posing treatment challenges.
• Refractory or painful metastatic lesions require effective and safe management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of percutaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided cryotherapy.
• To assess its efficacy in managing metastatic lesions adjacent to critical structures.

Main Methods:

• Percutaneous MRI-guided cryotherapy was performed on 27 metastatic lesions in 22 patients.
• Lesions were located in soft tissue (n=17) and bone (n=10), adjacent to critical structures like bowel, bladder, and major vessels.
• A 0.5-T open interventional MRI system was used for cryoprobe placement and ice-ball monitoring.

Main Results:

• 81% of tumors were treated without injury to adjacent critical structures.
• Local tumor control was achieved in 62% of treated lesions (stable or regressed).
• Pain palliation was reported in 17 of 19 patients (89%), with 6 experiencing complete relief.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous MRI-guided cryotherapy is a safe and feasible option for metastatic lesions near critical structures.
• The procedure demonstrates potential for local tumor control and effective pain relief.
• This technique offers a valuable minimally invasive treatment modality in palliative oncology.