Combined treatment of ablative therapy with percutaneous radiofrequency and cementoplasty of a symptomatic metastatic lesion of the acetabulum

Cooled radiofrequency ablation technology for painful bone tumors

Bone metastases are a common cause of cancer-related debilitating pain, especially when -localized in the vertebral column and not responsive to standard treatment. In such cases, various treatment options are available; among these is Radiofrequency, whose role has been rapidly growing over the past few years. In this study, we used the innovative Osteocool RF Ablation System (Medtronic) on a patient with a painful bone metastasis localized in the 5th lumbar vertebra, with encouraging results. The radiofrequency ablation of bone metastases with palliative aim represents an excellent treatment option, as it is a minimally invasive and safe procedure, and can be repeated multiple times.

CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous osteoplasty with or without radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of painful extraspinal and spinal bone metastases: technical outcome and complications in 29 patients

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess the safety and technical outcome of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided osteoplasty with or without prior percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with painful osteolyses.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 29 patients with painful extraspinal and spinal osteolyses (16 women, 13 men; 63.1±14.4 years) who underwent CT fluoroscopy-guided osteoplasty (10-20 mAs tube current) with or without RFA (26 and 14 lesions, respectively), in 33 consecutive procedures from 2002 to 2016. Technical success was defined as at least one complete RFA cycle and subsequent polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA) bone cement injection covering ≥75% of longest diameter of extraspinal osteolysis on axial plane or of distance between vertebral endplates. Procedure-related complications within 30 days and dose-length-product (DLP) were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Osteolyses were located in the pelvis (acetabulum, n=10; iliac bone, n=4), spine (thoracic, n=6; lumbar, n=5; sacral, n=8), long bones (femur, n=3; tibia, n=1), sternum (n=2) and glenoid (n=1). Mean size of the treated osteolysis was 4.0±1.2 cm (range, 1.9-6.9 cm). Of 40 osteolyses, 31 (77.5%) abutted neighboring risk structures (spinal canal or neuroforamen, n=18; neighboring joint, n=11; other, n=8). Mean number of RFA electrode positions and complete ablation cycles was 1.5±0.9 and 2.1±1.7, respectively. Mean PMMA filling volume was 7.7±5.7 mL (range, 2-30 mL). Small asymptomatic PMMA leakages were observed in 15 lesions (37.5%). Mean total DLP was 850±653 mGy*cm. Six minor complications were observed, without any major complications.

CONCLUSION

CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous osteoplasty with or without concomitant RFA for the treatment of painful extraspinal and spinal osteolyses can be performed with a low complication rate and high technical success.

Percutaneous low-pressure bone stenting to control cement deposition in extensive lytic lesions

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate low-pressure bone stenting combined with cementoplasty in extensive lytic lesions.

METHODS

A single-centre study involving four consecutive patients (four women) with extensive lytic tumours was performed. The average age was 65 years. Surgical treatment was not indicated or not wished for by the patients. Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Percutaneous consolidation was performed by an interventional radiologist under fluoroscopy guidance. Follow-up was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS).

RESULTS

Under general (n = 2) or local (n = 2) anaesthesia, five 11-gauge bone biopsy needles were advanced in four lesions. Five auto-expandable uncovered stents (10-14 mm diameter and 40-60 mm long) were inserted. In all cases, bone cement was successfully placed into the tumours. The volume of cement that was injected through the cannulas into the stents was 5-10 mL. Using VAS, pain decreased from more than 9/10 preoperatively to less than 2/10 after the procedure for all patients (p < 0.05). No complications occurred during the follow-up (8-19 months).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that cementoplasty combined with low-pressure bone stenting could allow effective bone stabilization resulting in pain relief.

KEY POINTS

• Low-pressure bone stenting is possible. • This technique improves cement injection control. • The procedure allows effective bone stabilization resulting in pain relief.

Bone radiofrequency ablation combined with prophylactic internal fixation for metastatic bone tumor of the femur from hepatocellular carcinoma

A 64-year-old man with 6-year history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was referred to us regarding bone metastasis to the right proximal femur. Although he underwent radiotherapy for pain palliation and local tumor control, the pain persisted and the tumor relapsed 3 months after the radiotherapy and he was thought to be at high risk of pathologic fracture. Given hypervascularity and large tumor size, a prophylactic internal fixation combined with adjuvant radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was proposed to reduce blood loss and prevent viable tumor cells being disseminated. His postoperative course was uneventful without requiring blood transfusion and preoperative symptoms immediately disappeared after surgery. He became capable of weight-bearing walk with a single cane and was almost asymptomatic without local progression on the plain radiographs when he died 14 months after surgery. Combination therapy of RFA and internal fixation using intramedullary nailing for metastases of the long bones from HCC seems to be a very promising technique both for sufficient pain relief and for local control of the tumor. Adjuvant RFA may become a potential option for patients with metastases of the long bones for the purpose of prevention of tumor dissemination and reduction of intraoperative blood loss.

Plasma-mediated radiofrequency ablation followed by percutaneous cementoplasty under fluoro-CT guidance: a case report

We report a case of a 81-year-old Caucasian man with colorectal carcinoma, treated by surgery in 1998, referred for palliative treatment of a refractory painful caused by osteolytic metastases of 2.5 cm in back-upper ilium spine. Plasma-mediated radiofrequency ablation was performed under conscious sedation, using Fluoroscopic Computer Tomography guidance. After completing the ablation phase of the procedure, a mixture of bone cement and Biotrace sterile barium sulfate was injected into the ablated cavity.

Patient was evaluated by using the Brief Pain Inventory and considering pain interference with daily living at day 1 and 3 and week 1, 2, 3, 4 by means of a telephone interview. A post-procedure Computer Tomography scan was performed to examine the distribution of cement deposition few minutes after the procedure. The plasma mediated RFA and cementoplasty were well tolerated by the patient who did not develop any complication.

Ablation of painful metastatic bone tumors: a systematic review

The pain is the most common problem in patients with bone metastases. It is not related to the characteristics of the tumor (type, location, number or size of metastases). Currently, the bone metastases can be treated with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, surgery and radiotherapy, but the drugs most used in the treatment of pain are opioids. These drugs give benefit between 8 and 12 weeks and often give non-negligible toxic effects. Percutaneous techniques are varied and, when there is indication, can be used to reduce pain and dose of morphine in these patients, being safe and effective techniques already at 4 weeks of treatment. The choice of a methodical of ablation compared to another depends on the type, size and location of the lesion. Moreover, the combined treatments of ablation and cementoplastic are also useful to stabilize the bone lesion. This review article analyzes techniques and effectiveness of percutaneous treatments of skeletal metastases.