Therapeutic effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for benign breast lesions

Objective To analyze the therapeutic effect of ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for treatment of breast benign lesions (BBLs). Methods Clinical data about 164 patients with 261 breast benign lesions admitted to our department from November 2013 to August 2016 were analyzed. One hundred and sixteen lesions adjacent to the skin, pectoralis and areola were included. All patients underwent ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation and all the lesions were biopsy-proved benign.The complete ablation of the tumors, volume reduction rate, operating time, immediate post-operative pain scoring and aesthetic satisfaction were evaluated. Results The mean diameter of tumors was (1.5±0.7) cm (range 0.3- 4.4 cm). MWA was successfully performed in all cases with complete ablation rate of 99.2% assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and 100% by ultrasound. The mean ablation time was 2.9 min (range 0.5-18.3 min). The median follow-up period was 14 months, and the BBLs were palpable in 43.9% of the cases, while they were palpable in 90.2% of the cases before MWA. The mean volume reduction rate was 80%±20%for total lesions at 12 months after ablation and it was 80%±33%, 76%±22%, 53%±34% for lesions≤ 1.0 cm, 1.1- 2.0 cm and> 2.0 cm, respectively. The immediate post-operative pain score was 0.57±0.50. Cosmesis assessment was reported as good or excellent in all patients. No complication or side effect was found in all cases. Conclusion Ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation for breast benign nodules is a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment with meaningful reduction in volume and satisfying in appearence.