Luigi Zugaro

Percutaneous image-guided cryoablation: current applications and results in the oncologic field

Percutaneous imaging-guided cryoablation (PICA) is a recently developed technique, which applies extreme hypothermia to destroy tumours under close imaging surveillance. It is minimally invasive, safe, repeatable, and does not interrupt or compromise other oncologic therapies. It presents several advantages over more established heat-based thermal ablation techniques (e.g. radiofrequency ablation; RFA) including intrinsic analgesic properties, superior monitoring capability on multi-modal imaging, ability to treat larger tumours, and preservation of tissue collagenous architecture. There has been a recent large increase in reports evaluating the utility of PICA in a wide range of patients and tumours, but systematic analysis of the literature is challenging due to the rapid pace of change and predominance of extensively heterogeneous level III studies. The precise onco-therapeutic role of PICA has not been established. This narrative review outlines the available evidence for PICA in a range of tumours. Current indications include curative therapy of small T1a renal tumours; curative/palliative therapy of small primary/secondary lung tumours where RFA is unsuitable; palliation of painful bone metastases; and urologic treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer. There is growing evidence to support its use for small hepatic tumours, and encouraging results have been obtained for breast tumours, extra-abdominal desmoid tumours, and management of higher-stage tumours and oligometastatic disease. However, the overall evidence base is weak, effectively restricting PICA to cases where standard therapy and RFA are unsuitable. As the technique and evidence continue to mature, the benefits of this emerging technique will hopefully become more widely available to cancer patients in the future.

Critical role of HIFU in musculoskeletal interventions.

Abstract Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) is a totally noninvasive ablation technique that in the last years had an important development in a large number of applications: in particular gynaecological disorders, bone lesions, prostate, breast, brain and other organs. This review of MRgFUS is focused on the technical aspects and the current clinical application in musculoskeletal interventions. More precisely, this paper aims to review the relatively scarce literature on this topic also in comparison with our 3-year experience in the use of this technique in the field of musculoskeletal interventions.

Safety and efficacy of intra-articular anti-tumor necrosis factor α agents compared to corticosteroids in a treat-to-target strategy in patients with inflammatory arthritis and monoarthritis flare

The aim of this study was to assess safety and efficacy of ultrasonography (US)-guided intra-articular injections using tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers compared to corticosteroids in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, experiencing refractory monoarthritis despite the current systemic therapy. Eighty-two patients were randomized to receive three intra-articular injections monthly of either corticosteroid or TNF blockers. Primary endpoints were the safety and an improvement greater than 20% for visual analogic scales of involved joint pain in patients injected with anti-TNFα. Further clinical, US, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations were considered secondary endpoints. Intra-articular TNF blockers are a safe strategy, determining a significant reduction of patient and physician reported clinical outcomes and US/MRI scores, in RA and PsA patients, when compared to intra-articular injections of corticosteroids. US guidance excluded the possibility to inject the drug in the wrong site, maximizing local effects, reducing systemic effects, and increasing the safety of the procedure. Patients with inflammatory monoarthritis could be successfully treated with US-guided intra-articular TNF blockers that are a safe and well tolerated procedure, to achieve a longstanding clinical and radiological good clinical response and/or disease remission.

Treatment of Solitary Painful Osseous Metastases with Radiotherapy, Cryoablation or Combined Therapy: Propensity Matching Analysis in 175 Patients

Purpose aim of this study was to identify outcomes in pain relief and quality of life in patients with a solitary painful osseous metastasis treated by radiotherapy, cryoablation or the combination using a propensity score matching study design. Materials and Methods 175 patients with painful bone metastases were included in the study. Twenty-five of them underwent a radiation course (20 Gy in five daily fractions) 15 days after the cryoablation. These subjects were retrospectively matched by propensity analysis with a group of subjects treated by radiotherapy (125 subjects) and with a group treated byCryoablation (25 subjects). The pain relief in terms of complete response, rate of subjects requiring analgesics after treatments and the changes in self-rated quality of life were measured. Informed consent was obtained from the subject and the study was approved by the local Ethical Committee. Results An higher proportion of subjects treated by cryoablation (32%) or cryoablation followed by RT (72%;) experienced a complete response compared with patients treated by radiotherapy alone (11.2%). After Bonferroni correction strategy, the addition of radiotherapy to cryoablation significantly improved the rate of complete response compared with cryoablation alone (p = 0.011) and this paralleled with an improved self-rated quality of life. Seventeen subjects (13.6%) of patients in the radiotherapy group, 9 (36%) in the cryoablation group, and 19 (76)% in the cryoablation- radiotherapy group did not require narcotic medications. Conclusions The addition of radiotherapy to cryoablation favorably impacts on perceived pain, with a favorable toxicity profile. However, our data should be interpreted with caution and could serve as a framework around which to design future trials.

Treatment of focal benign lesions of the bone: MRgFUS and RFA

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery and radiofrequency ablation in the management of bone and soft-tissue lesions. Musculoskeletal interventional radiology represents an interesting option for the treatment of benign bone and soft-tissue lesions to avoid the invasiveness of surgery and related risks. The imaging techniques now available, besides representing an optimal guide, allow control of the temperature reached in the region of interest, avoiding or minimizing damage to the sensitive structures surrounding the lesion.

CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of spinal osteoblastoma: treatment and long-term follow-up

Abstract Objective: Osteoblastoma (OB) is a painful, rare, benign bone tumour usually observed in young populations, and this condition involves the spine in up to one-third of cases. We sought to focus on the minimally invasive treatment of spinal OB with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) under computed tomography (CT) guidance. When performed near the spinal cord, surgery can lead to instability of the spine, sometimes requiring additional interventions to stabilise the segments involved, and can cause the precocious onset of arthrosis or other degenerative diseases. The results were evaluated both clinically and with the aid of diagnostic imaging techniques during a 5-year follow-up study. Materials and methods: Eleven patients affected by spinal OB were treated in a single session with biopsy and CT-guided RFA. Pre- and post-evaluations of the patients were performed both clinically and with CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Complete success in terms of pain relief was achieved in all patients. Additional treatments were not required in any patients. There were no complications. During follow-up, neither complications nor pathological findings related to the treatment were observed. Conclusions: Our experience demonstrates that RFA for spinal OB is safe and effective. One of the main advantages of this technique is represented by its lower grade of invasiveness compared with that for potentially hazardous surgical manoeuvres.

Minimally invasive treatments of painful bone lesions: state of the art

Abstract The role of the interventional radiology (IR) in the musculoskeletal system, and in particular in the bone, is a field of knowledge that is growing significantly in the last years with indications for treatment of both benign and malign lesions. In this paper, we review the state of the art of this application of the IR in the bone (bone metastasis and benign bone lesions) with discussion about all the techniques today used.

Can Radiotherapy be Combined with Radiofrequency Ablation in the Management of Symptomatic Osteolytic Skeletal Metastasis

to the machine settings used for dose delivery. Table 1 examines the role of IGRT in modifying the set-up position in200patientsreceivingradiotherapy.Acouchshiftwasmade at the delivery of 91% of fractions and an isocentre shift was madeduring a course of treatment in15%of treatments. There were some differences between different tumour sites. Web-enabled distance computer planning has led to more efficient ways of working, including consultant sign off of plans from remote locations and a centralised planning service for complex treatments [5]. By using remote sign off for even the most complex radiotherapy plans we can ensure safety with minimal disturbance to consultants’ work patterns. A rapid expansion of our network is now envisaged, including joint ventures with National Health Service provider trusts and the formation of an international group to improve the global quality of radiotherapy.

Anaesthetics, steroids and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal procedures

This review aims to evaluate the role of anaesthetics, steroids and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) employed with ultrasound-guided injection in the management of musculoskeletal pathology of the extremities. Ultrasound-guided injection represents an interesting and minimally invasive solution for the treatment of tendon and joint inflammatory or degenerative diseases. The availability of a variety of new drugs such as hyaluronic acid and PRP provides expansion of the indications and therapeutic possibilities. The clinical results obtained in terms of pain reduction and functional recovery suggest that the use of infiltrative procedures can be a good therapeutic alternative in degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases.

Interventional Radiology Management of a Ruptured Lumbar Artery Pseudoaneurysm after Cryoablation and Vertebroplasty of a Lumbar Metastasis

We describe the management of a complication (a lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm and its rupture) after combined procedure (cryoablation and vertebroplasty) on a lumbar (L2) metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. Review of the literature is also presented with discussion about the measures to be taken to prevent these types of complications.