Ultrasound-guided cryoablation: Our experience in percutaneous treatment as an alternative to surgery for fibroadenomas of the breast lesions

Objectives

To review the tolerance to and medium-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided cryoablation as an alternative to surgical treatment of fibroadenomas of the breast in our hospital.

Methods

We analyzed data from the 12 patients with fibroadenomas treated with ultrasound-guided cryoablation in our hospital between November 2020 and July 2022. Cryoablation was performed with a system using argon gas (Galil Boston Scientific®) or liquid nitrogen (Prosense Ice Cure®) following a triple-phase (freeze-thaw-freeze) protocol of variable duration depending on the size of the lesion. Patients were followed up with ultrasonography at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months.

Results

All patients tolerated the procedure well. Two patients reported moderate pain in the hours immediately after the procedure; no other complications occurred. The findings during follow-up included decreased volume of the fibroadenoma (47.07% at 3 months, 77.79% at 6 months, 81.77% at 12 months, and 88.81% at 18 months), blurring of the nodule’s margins, a significantly reduced or absent signal within the lesion in the Doppler study, an echogenic band (representing edema, hemorrhage, and fat necrosis), and hypoechoic areas suggestive of fibrosis surrounding the fibroadenoma.

Conclusions

Cryoablation is done on an outpatient basis, avoiding general anesthesia, thus making it less expensive. Cryoablation yields better cosmetic results than surgery.