Focused Ultrasound Therapy
Focused ultrasound is a rapidly evolving, therapeutic technology that could improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with gestational trophoblastic disease. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the body without damaging surrounding normal tissue.
How it Works
Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces therapeutic thermal ablation, which destroys the target tissue.
The primary options for treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease include invasive surgery with probable loss of the potential for future pregnancies.
For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a non-invasive alternative to surgery with less risk of complications and lower cost.
Advantages
- Focused ultrasound is noninvasive, so it does not carry added concerns like surgical wound healing or infection.
- Focused ultrasound can reach the desired target without damaging surrounding tissue.
- It can be repeated, if necessary.
Clinical Trials
At the present time, there are no clinical trials recruiting patients for focused ultrasound treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease.
Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement
Focused ultrasound treatment for gestational trophoblastic disease is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical insurance companies.
Notable Papers
Qu D, Chen Y, Jiang J, Shi Q, Zhou H, Wang Z. Long-term outcome of ultrasound-guided focused ultrasound ablation for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in the cesarean scar: a case report. BMC Womens Health. 2022 Dec 15;22(1):522. doi: 10.1186/s12905-022-02114-0. PMID: 36522625
