Application of high-intensity focused ultrasound in gynaecological diseases

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a noninvasive treatment method, has attracted increasing attention in recent years for the management of gynaecological diseases. This review summarizes current literature on the application of HIFU in gynaecological diseases and discusses the advantages of HIFU compared with traditional surgery and other treatment strategies.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from their inception to Dec 2025. Titles and abstracts were screened, and relevant data were extracted, followed by full-text quality assessment of the potentially relevant articles.

This studies have enrolled the application of HIFU in 135 studies in uterine fibroids, 42 studies in adenomyosis, 22 studies in caesarean scar pregnancy, 12 studies in endometriosis, 3 studies in cervicitis, 13 studies in vulvar diseases and 10 studies in placenta diseases. With accumulating clinical experience and ongoing technological advancements, HIFU has achieved improved efficacy and reduced rates of severe adverse events. In particular, HIFU may represent a well-tolerated option for patients seeking fertility preservation and does not appear to increase obstetric risk.

HIFU is effective and recognized as a treatment for uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and other benign gynaecological diseases. However, lack of high-quality long-term follow-up data remains. Patients can be more precisely selected and treated with appropriate therapy, minimizing adverse effects and decreasing the re-intervention rates. Noninvasive treatments such as HIFU are expected to become increasingly important in the next decade.