[Treatment of fibroadenomas by high-intensity focused ultrasound: What results? Review]

To assess benefits and adverse effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as a treatment for fibroadenomas (FA).

To ensure the quality of the methodology, the PRISMA criteria have been met at all stages of the development of this review. We searched MEDLINE from inception to May 2017, without any restriction.

fibroadenoma, focused ultrasound, HIFU and fibroadenomata were used. Data were extracted and the results were compared. Two reviewers independently extracted study characteristics and outcome data.

Of 20 identified abstracts, 5 primary studies met inclusion criteria. All studies reported a reduction in the size of FA treated with an increasing effect over time. Pain tolerance was most often assessed as moderate. Adverse effects of HIFU were not severe in all studies.

HIFU appears to be a promising technique in the treatment of fibroadenomas with a volume decrease of approximately 50 % at 6 months of therapy.