Abstract

SOLA, Gerardo et al. Ablación percutánea por radiofrecuencia en metástasis óseas dolorosas. Rev. Asoc. Argent. Ortop. Traumatol. [online]. 2015, vol.80, n.3, pp.164-170. ISSN 1852-7434.

Introduction: There are different treatments for painful bone metastases, with different results. CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is one of them. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the initial results using this method, focusing on pain relief, and to show details of the surgical technique. Methods: Eighteen patients (average age 59.2 years) were treated, with a follow-up of 15 months. Nine metastases were located in femur, 4 in dorsal/lumbar spine, 3 in the scapula and 2 in the iliac. The origins of the metastases were breast cancer (7 cases), lung (4 cases), kidney (4 cases) and thyroid (3 cases). The rachis metastases were found at more than 10 mm of the medullary cavity and long bones metastases showed low risk of fracture. Lesions >3 cm were treated with CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using Valleylab equipment with RITA® needle and those with <3 cm with Cool-tipTM needle. Pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale preoperatively, at 2, 7 and 30 days, and then at 3 and 6 months. Results: Preoperative pain score was 8.33 on average. At day 7 after ablation it was on average 5 and at 30 days it was 2 points. At 3 and 6 months, the average score was 1. Tolerance to this method was excellent and there were no complications. Two patients suffered recurrences, which were treated with unconventional proximal femur and knee endoprostheses, respectively, with favorable outcome. Conclusions: CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation seems a promising tool in the treatment of painful bone metastases; pain control is excellent and tolerance to the procedure is good.

Keywords : Metastasis; Painful bone metastasis; Ablation; Radiofrequency; Computed tomography.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )