Ultrasound guided cryoablation of fibroadenomas

Fibroadenoma (FA) of the breast is the most common disorders in young women. The aim of the study was to evaluate cryoablation (CA) under ultrasound guidance in the office setting for patients with FA.

For this prospective multicenter trial an office-based cryosurgical system was used to treat histological confirmed benign FA with a maximum dimension of 3 cm. 23 CA procedures were performed under ultrasound guidance. The cryoprobe was inserted into the center of the FA guided by real-time ultrasound. A freeze-thaw-freeze treatment cycle was performed according to the size of the FA. During the CA procedure continuous ultrasound monitoring of the ice ball was performed, verifying engulfment of the FA. Patients attended 4 follow-up visits at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year and underwent ultrasound and physical examinations.

Data was collected from 23 procedures. The ice ball engulfed the treated FA in 91.3 %. A sharp reduction in volume was observed at 6-month follow-up and continued more moderately up to 1 year. No serious but four minor adverse events occurred. At 1 year follow-up, lumps that were assessed pre-treatment as hard were assessed as soft or not palpable. 7 patients complained of pain caused by the lump prior to cryotherapy, while 5 of these patients felt transient pain during the follow up period. It is reasonable to assume that the pain was not related to the CA procedure as it was not consistent. In 96 % of the cases patients and physicians rated the cosmetic results of the procedure as excellent or good.

The cryodestruction proved functional and safe, while showing reduction in palpability and pain caused by the FA in the treated patients.