Neoadjuvant in Situ and Systemic Immunotherapy with Lymph Node Cryoablation in Resectable Stage III Melanoma Metastasis: a Proof-of-Concept Study.

PURPOSE: Complete lymph node dissection is the recommended treatment for clinically detectable lymph nodes in stage III melanoma. This surgery is associated with substantial morbidity. We hypothesize that combining percutaneous imaging-guided cryoablation of locoregional lymph nodes metastases with neoadjuvant in situ and systemic immunotherapy could allow disease control and evaluate the feasibility of this combination in this proof-of-concept study. METHODS: We enrolled 15 patients with stage IIIB/IIIC melanoma. Patients were treated as follows: a single 240 mg flat dose infusion of nivolumab on day 1, cryoablation under local anesthesia using CT on day 2, and a single intralesional injection of 10-20 mg of ipilimumab into the lymphadenopathy treated by cryotherapy on day 3. Five-eight weeks after this procedure, complete lymph node dissection was performed according to routine care. The primary outcome measure of this study was feasibility, measured as the number of failures (i.e., inability to complete the entire procedure). RESULTS: The procedure was carried out successfully in 15 out of 15 patients with an observed number of failures of 0. The Bayesian analysis showed an estimated failure rate of 4.2% [0.2-20.6]. Eight patients (53%) had adverse events secondary to either immunotherapy or cryotherapy. Grade 3/4 events occurred in three patients, but all resolved quickly and patients could proceed to surgery as scheduled. Eight patients (53%) had a pathological complete or near complete response. CONCLUSION: Combining percutaneous cryotherapy with in situ ipilimumab and systemic nivolumab for stage III resectable melanoma is feasible with tolerable toxicity.

Bone Consolidation: A Practical Guide for the Interventional Radiologist.

In recent years, interventional radiologists have been increasingly involved in the management of bone fractures resulting from benign (osteoporosis and trauma), as well as malignant (tumor-related impending or pathologic fractures) conditions. Interventional techniques used to fix fractures include image-guided osteoplasty, screw-mediated osteosynthesis, or combinations of both. In the present narrative review, we highlight the most common clinical scenarios that may benefit from such interventional techniques with specific focus on spine, pelvic ring, and long bones.

Percutaneous image-guided cryoablation with temporary balloon occlusion of the renal artery for the treatment of central renal tumors.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the technical feasibility and outcomes of percutaneous image-guided cryoablation with temporary balloon occlusion of the renal artery for the treatment of central renal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients with central renal tumors treated with cryoablation and temporary renal artery occlusion from January 2017 to October 2021 were retrospectively included. Patient demographics, tumor's characteristics, procedural data, technical success, primary and secondary clinical efficacy, complications (according to Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe [CIRSE] classification) and follow-up were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients (8 men, 6 women; mean age 72.4 years ± 21.4 [SD] years; age range: 42-93 years) with 14 central renal tumors (median size, 32 mm; IQR: 23.5, 39.5 mm; range: 13-50 mm) were treated with percutaneous image-guided cryoablation and temporary balloon occlusion of the renal artery. Technical success was 13/14 (93%), with 1/14 (7%) failure of vascular access. A median of 4 cryoprobes (IQR: 3, 4.75) were inserted and protective hydrodissection was performed in 11/14 (79%) patients. Median time to perform cryoprobes insertion, hydrodissection and vascular access was 26.5 min (IQR: 18, 35 min), 10 min (IQR: 10, 17 min) and 30 min (IQR: 20, 45 min) respectively. Median duration of the whole intervention was 150 min (IQR: 129, 180 min; range: 100-270 min). Median hospital stay was 2.5 days (IQR: 2, 4 days; range: 2-14 days). Major complications occurred in 3/14 (21%) patients. Primary efficacy rate was 93% (13/14 patients). Median oncological follow-up was 25 months (IQR: 11, 33 months; range: 6-39 months). One patient experienced renal tumor recurrence at 14-months of follow-up, which was successfully treated with repeat cryoablation. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous image-guided cryoablation of renal tumors with temporary balloon occlusion of the renal artery is technically feasible, with a high technical success rate and paths the way for percutaneous treatment of central renal tumors.

A new versatile MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device for the treatment of musculoskeletal tumors.

Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging-guided High Intensity focused Ultrasound (MRgHIFU) is a non-invasive, non-ionizing thermal ablation therapy that is particularly interesting for the palliative or curative treatment of musculoskeletal tumors. We introduce a new modular MRgHIFU device that allows the ultrasound transducer to be positioned precisely and interactively over the body part to be treated. A flexible, MR-compatible supporting structure allows free positioning of the transducer under MRI/optical fusion imaging guidance. The same structure can be rigidified using pneumatic depression, holding the transducer rigidly in place. Targeting accuracy was first evaluated in vitro. The average targeting error of the complete process was found to be equal to 5.4 ± 2.2 mm in terms of focus position, and 4.7° ± 2° in terms of transducer orientation. First-in-man feasibility is demonstrated on a patient suffering from important, uncontrolled pain from a bone metastasis located in the forearm. The 81 × 47 × 34 mm3 lesion was successfully treated using five successive positions of the transducer, under real-time monitoring by MR Thermometry. Significant pain palliation was observed 3 days after the intervention. The system described and characterized in this study is a particularly interesting modular, low-cost MRgHIFU device for musculoskeletal tumor therapy.

Percutaneous Cryoablation for Recurrent Head and Neck Tumors.

PURPOSE: To report techniques and results of 16 cryoablation procedures in 11 patients treated for recurrent head and neck cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This retrospective study reviewed 11 consecutive patients with head and neck cancer recurrence after primary treatment by surgery and radiotherapy, treated with cryoablation between 2016 and 2020. Efficacy was measured by local control rate evaluated on MRI or/and PET. Tumor characteristics, number of cryoprobes, thermoprotective measures and complications were documented. RESULTS: Sixteen cryoablation procedures were performed in 11 patients with head and neck cancer recurrence after surgery or radiotherapy, deemed ineligible for classic salvage treatment. Among 11 patients, four were treated for an epidermoid carcinoma, four for an adenocarcinoma and three for other types: 1 muco-epidermoid carcinoma, 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma and 1 esthesioneuroblastoma, 10/11 patients had prior surgery, 7/11 patients had prior chemotherapy and 3/11 patients had prior radiotherapy. Median number of cryoprobes was 4, [IQR, 3-6 cryoprobes], thermoprotective measures to protect surrounding organs were required for 10/16 procedures. After cryoablation, local control rate was 45.4% at a mean follow-up of 11.7 months (range 3-34 months). Among the 16 cryoablation procedures, four resulted in complications, two were considered major complications: one septic shock on inhalation pneumopathy during extubation, requiring intensive care; and one dysphonia due to a recurrent nerve injury. CONCLUSION: Cryoablation as a salvage treatment for recurrence of head and neck tumors after surgery and/or radiotherapy is an effective option, especially for patients that cannot benefit from salvage surgery.

Safety and Oncologic Outcomes of Percutaneous Cryoablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma Recurrences in the Ipsilateral Kidney Following Partial Nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively investigate the safety and oncological outcomes of cryoablation performed on residual/recurring renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the ipsilateral kidney following partial nephrectomy (PN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data dealing with patients', RCC, procedure (including the length of the hospital stay), and follow-up (technical efficacy [TE], local tumor progression-free survival [LTPFS], disease-free survival [DFS], metastasis-free survival [MFS], cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival [OS]) were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Between January 2008 and November 2020, 21 consecutive patients (17 [81%] men; 4 [19%] women; median age 68 years; range 43-82) underwent cryoablation due to residual/recurring RCC in the PN site (15 patients) or de-novo RCC (6 patients) in the ipsilateral kidney. Median tumor size was 2.2 cm (mean 2.3 cm; range 0.8-4; interquartile range [IQR] 1.9-3). There were two (2/21; 10%) minor self-limiting hemorrhagic complications, both occurring in the group of patients with RCC in the PN site. Median hospital stay was 2 days (mean 2.1; range 1-5; IQR 2-2). TE was 100% (21/21 patients), and 10-year estimates of LTPFS, MFS and DFS were 74.1% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 56.8-96.7%), 36.4% (95% CI 14.2-93.8%), and 43.5% (95% CI 21.9-86.4%), respectively. CSS and OS were 100% at the last available follow-up (median 56 months; mean 67.4; range: 12-147; IQR:34-95). CONCLUSION: Cryoablation in patients with residual/recurring RCC following PN is safe and results in high 10-year estimates of LTPFS.

Percutaneous osteoplasty in long bones: Current status and assessment of outcomes.

Osteoplasty is a minimally invasive imaging-guided intervention providing mechanical stabilization, bone consolidation and pain relief in oncologic patients presenting with non-osteoblastic bone metastases or with insufficiency fractures. The intervention relies on the injection of an acrylic substance (ie, polymethylmethacrylate; PMMA) into the target bone. PMMA is very resistant to axial compressive loads but much less to bending, torsional and shearing stresses. Accordingly, from a biomechanical standpoint osteoplasty is adapted for the palliative treatment of small painful lytic bone defects located in the epiphyseal region of long bones in patients with clear surgical contraindications; or for increasing the anchoring of the osteosynthesis material into the target bone. Although pain relief is rapid and effective following osteoplasty, secondary fractures have been reported in up to 8-9% of long bone tumors undergoing such intervention; and following such event, fixation with endomedullary osteosynthetic material (eg, nailing) is not practicable any more. Accordingly, careful patients' selection is critical and should happen with a multidisciplinary approach.

Sporadic Desmoid Tumours: Systematic Review with Reflection on the Role of Cryoablation.

Desmoid tumours (DT) are rare locally infiltrative soft-tissue tumours which do not metastasise. DT arise sporadically or are associated with familial syndromes, with different clinical and genetic patterns. In recent years there has been an increasing therapeutic role of cryoablation for the treatment of sporadic DT. Therefore, in this present review, we: (a) summarize all the main epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of sporadic DT that are relevant to an interventional radiologists' practice; (b) present the results of a systematic review that has been conducted with the intent of highlighting the main clinical outcomes available thus far with cryoablation; and (c) discuss the current and future potential applications of cryoablation in this field. Five studies were included in the systematic review accounting for 146 patients. Only 18.5% patients received cryoablation as a first-line treatment. Overall, the volume of the DT undergoing cryoablation was very large (mean total DT volume of 237 cm3). Major complications were noted for 13.3-30% patients and following 2.4-6.7% interventional sessions. The rates of complete tumour response ranged between 0 and 43.3%. 1- and 3-year local progression-free survival rates were 85.1-85.8%, and 77.3-82.9%, respectively. Complete pain relief was reported in 40-66.7% symptomatic patients. In conclusion, cryoablation is currently proposed as a therapeutic strategy to very large DT, which is recognized to be associated with an increased procedure-related morbidity and reduced rates of complete tumour response. Proposing cryoablation as the first-line treatment may improve these clinical outcomes.

Safety and Efficacy of Percutaneous Cryoablation of Extraspinal Thyroid Cancer Bone Metastases with Curative Intent: Single-Center Experience with a Median Follow-up of More than 5 Years.

PURPOSE: To determine the oncologic outcomes and safety profile of image-guided percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) for extraspinal thyroid cancer bone metastases with curative intent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2010 and January 2020, 16 consecutive patients (8 men, 8 women; mean age, 61 years ± 19; range, 30-84 years) with 18 bone metastases (median bone tumor size, 19 mm; interquartile range [IQR], 12-29 mm; range, 7-58 mm) underwent PCA of oligometastatic extraspinal bone metastases. Thirteen (81%) patients were radioiodine therapy resistant. Two patients underwent 2 bone tumor ablations in a single session. Procedural data, oncologic outcomes, follow-up (with magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography-computed tomography), and adverse events were retrospectively investigated. Local tumor progression-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A median of 2 cryoprobes (IQR, 1.25-3 cryoprobes; range, 1-7 cryoprobes) were used, with 2 freezing cycles; the median length of freezing was 20 minutes (IQR, 17-20 minutes; range, 10-20 minutes). The technical success was 100% (18/18), and the primary technical efficacy was 94.4% (17/18). The median follow-up was 68 months (IQR, 38-93 months). During follow-up, 3 of 17 (17.6%) tumors demonstrated local progression at 7, 13, and 27 months. Consequently, the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year local tumor progression-free survivals were 93.3%, 84.6%, 76.9%, 75%, and 72.7%, respectively. Two of 16 (12.5%) patients died during follow-up at 43 and 88 months. The major adverse event rate was 5.5% (1/18) with 1 postablative acromion fracture. CONCLUSIONS: PCA for extraspinal thyroid cancer bone metastases demonstrated high local tumor control rates with a safe profile at long-term follow-up.

Percutaneous image-guided cryoablation of spinal metastases: over 10-year experience in two academic centers.

OBJECTIVES: To report on safety and clinical effectiveness of cryoablation for the treatment of spinal metastases (SM) in patients needing pain palliation or local tumor control (LTC). METHODS: All consecutive patients with SM who underwent cryoablation from May 2008 to September 2020 in two academic centers were retrospectively identified and included in the present analysis. Patient characteristics, goal of treatment (curative/palliative), SM characteristics, procedural details, and clinical outcomes (pain relief; local tumor control [LTC]) were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 74 patients (35 women; median age 61 years) accounting for 105 SM. Additional cementoplasty was used for 76 SM (76/105; 72.4%). There were 9 complications (out of 105 SM [8.5%]; 2 major and 7 minor) in 8 patients. Among the 64 (64/74; 86.5%) patients with painful SM, the mean Numerical Pain Rating Scale dropped from 6.8 ± 2.2 (range, 0-10) at the baseline to 4.1 ± 2.4 (range, 0-9; p < 0.0001) at 24 h, 2.5 ± 2.6 (range, 0-9; p < 0.0001) at 1 month, and 2.4 ± 2.5 (range, 0-9; p < 0.0001) at the last available follow-up (mean 14.7 ± 19.6 months; median 6). Thirty-four patients (34/64; 53.1%) were completely pain-free at the last follow-up. At mean 25.9 ± 21.2 months (median 16.5) of follow-up, LTC was achieved in 23/28 (82.1%) SM in 21 patients undergoing cryoablation with curative intent. CONCLUSION: Cryoablation of SM, often performed in combination with vertebral augmentation, is safe, achieves fast and sustained pain relief, and provides high rates of LTC at mean 2-year follow-up. KEY POINTS: •Cryoablation of spinal metastases is safe. •Cryoablation of spinal metastases allows rapid and sustained pain relief. •The mean 2-year rate of local tumor control after cryoablation of spinal metastases is 82.1%.

Safety of Thermosensor Insertion in the Midline of the Spinal Canal Anterior to the Dura: A Cadaveric Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of the insertion of a blunt-tip thermosensor inside the anterior epidural space using the trans-osseous route in the dorsal spine and the double oblique trans-foraminal approach in the lumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10 attempts were made on a 91 years old human specimen. Thermosensors were inserted under fluoroscopic guidance in the anterior part of the spinal canal using various oblique angulations. Surgical dissection was then performed to identify the position of the thermosensor and look for any injury to the dural sac or the spinal cord/cauda equina. RESULTS: Nine thermosensors could be deployed successfully in the anterior part of the spinal canal from Th8 to L5 while one attempt (L5 level) failed due to a technical issue on the coaxial needle. On anteroposterior projection, the tip of thermosensor relative to the midline was classified as centered in 5 cases, overcrossing in 3 cases and undercrossing in 1 case. At surgical dissection, the tip of the thermosensor was epidural posterior to the posterior longitudinal ligament in 8 cases and anterior to the longitudinal ligament in 1 case (the undercrossing case). There were 3 tears to the dura, all in the overcrossing group. There was no case of injury to the spinal cord/cauda equina. CONCLUSION: Insertion of a thin blunt-tip thermosensor with optimal angulation leads to an epidural post-ligamentous position on the midline without damage to the dural sac. The blunt-tip did not prevent from dural tearing should the insertion overcross the midline.

Freezing Nodal Disease: Local Control Following Percutaneous Image-Guided Cryoablation of Locoregional and Distant Lymph Node Oligometastases: A 10-Year, Single-Center Experience.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess the technical feasibility, safety, and oncologic outcomes of percutaneous image-guided cryoablation (PCA) of locoregional and distant lymph node metastases (LNMs). METHODS: All consecutive patients undergoing PCA of LNMs between February 2009 and December 2019 were identified using a retrospective database search. Every patient was followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and at approximately 3-6-month intervals using computed tomography or positron emission tomography-computed tomography. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate local tumor progression-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Locoregional and distant groups were compared using the Fisher test. Technical success, technique efficacy, complications, and oncologic outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-six metachronous oligometastatic LNMs (median size, 15 mm [interquartile range, 13-15 mm; range, 9-36 mm]) were treated in 37 sessions in 29 patients and defined as locoregional (26/37 sessions) or distant (11/37 sessions). Seventeen patients had undergone prior surgery or radiotherapy. Six patients underwent 8 retreatments for locoregional progression. An additional visceral oligometastasis was treated in 4 of the 11 distant LNM PCA sessions. The technical success and primary technique efficacy rates were 100%. The complication rate was 5.4% (2 transient nerve palsies). At a median follow-up of 23 months, there were 2 instances of local tumor progression (5.6%); the 1-, 2-, and 3-year local tumor progression-free survival was 100%, 94.3%, and 94.3%, respectively. Thirteen (45%) patients demonstrated no disease progression. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival was 96.2%, 90.5%, and 70%, respectively. The patients were free from systemic oncologic therapy following 20 (54%) sessions, with a mean treatment break of 19.1 months. CONCLUSIONS: The PCA of lymph node oligometastases is feasible and safe, and offers promising local tumor control at midterm follow-up.

Safety and oncologic efficacy of percutaneous MRI-guided cryoablation of intraparenchymal renal cancers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and oncologic efficacy of percutaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided cryoablation of intraparenchymal renal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2009 and August 2019, 31 consecutives patients with 31 entirely intraparenchymal biopsy-proven renal cancers were treated with cryoablation under MRI-guidance in our institution, and were retrospectively included. There were 20 men and 11 women with a mean age of 68.5±12.5 (SD) (range: 40-91years). Patient, tumor- and procedure-related, and follow-up data were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Local recurrence free (LRFS), metastasis free (MFS), disease free (DFS), cancer specific (CSS), and overall survivals (OS) were calculated. RESULTS: Primary and secondary technical efficacy rates were 94% and 100%, respectively. Median follow-up was 27months. Seven (7/31; 23%) minor complications were noted in 7 patients. Patients showed a significant decline of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between baseline and nadir (mean basal eGFR 65.9±22.4 [SD] mL/min/1.73m2vs. mean nadir eGFR 52.8±26.0 [SD] mL/min/1.73m2; P<0.001), but only two showed a clinically significant renal function decline. Three-year estimates of primary and secondary LRFS, MFS, and DFS were 64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47-87%), 89% (95% CI: 78-99%), 83% (95% CI: 77-98%), and 45% (95% CI: 28-73%), respectively. No patients died due to renal cancer evolution (three-year CSS of 100%; 95% CI: 100-100%). One patient died 52months after the percutaneous treatment due to cryoablation-unrelated causes (three-year OS of 100%; 95% CI: 100-100%). CONCLUSION: MRI-guided percutaneous cryoablation for intraparenchymal renal cancer offers good oncologic outcomes with acceptable complication rates and renal function worsening.

Artificial ascites using the guidewire technique during microwave ablation in the liver dome: technique and analysis of fluid repartition.

PURPOSE: To describe the guidewire technique to perform hydrodistension and create artificial ascites during liver microwave ablation (MWA) of tumors located in the hepatic dome and evaluate the effectiveness of repartition of peritoneal fluid along segments VII and VIII with this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all 18 consecutive patients who benefited from MWA combined with hydrodistension causing artificial ascites performed with the guidewire technique was conducted. The technique involves inserting a 20G spinal needle in the liver parenchyma and catheterizing the peritoneum with a 0.018 nitinol guidewire while retrieving the needle from the liver. Technical success was defined by the successful insertion of a sheath over the wire in the peritoneal cavity and identification of peritoneal fluid on CT images, with repartition of ascites around segments VII and VIII. RESULTS: Target tumors were located in segments VII and VIII and had a mean size of 27.7 mm with a mean distance from the diaphragm of 1.7 mm. Technical success of artificial ascites was 14/18 (78%). In the four cases where artificial ascites failed, patients had undergone previous liver surgery. In the 14 cases for which artificial ascites were successful, complete separation of the diaphragm from the ablation zone was noted in 9/14 cases and partial separation in 5/14 cases. CONCLUSION: Hydrodistension with the guidewire technique is effective and safe to accomplish artificial ascites. The extent of repartition of peritoneal fluid is variable, especially in the peritoneal recess in contact with the bare area where diffusion of fluid was variable.

Vertebral augmentation reduces the 12-month mortality and morbidity in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the 12-month all-cause mortality and morbidity in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) undergoing vertebroplasty/balloon kyphoplasty (VP/BKP) versus non-surgical management (NSM). METHODS: Following a Medline and EMBASE search for English language articles published from 2010 to 2019, 19 studies reporting on mortality and morbidity after VP/BKP in patients with OVCFs were selected. The 12-month timeline was set due to the largest amount of data availability at such time interval. Estimates for each study were reported as odds ratios (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p values. Fixed or random-effects meta-analyses were performed. All tests were based on a two-sided significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Pooled OR across 5 studies favored VP/BKP over NSM in terms of 12-month all-cause mortality (OR: 0.81 [95% CI: 0.46-1.42]; p = .46). Pooled OR across 11 studies favored VP/BKP over NSM in terms of 12-month all-cause morbidity (OR: 0.64 [95% CI: 0.31-1.30]; p = .25). Sub-analysis of data dealing with 12-month infective morbidity from any origin confirmed the benefit of VP/BKP over NSM (OR: 0.23 [95% CI, 0.02-2.54]; p = .23). CONCLUSION: Compared to NSM, VP/BKP reduces the 12-month risk of all-cause mortality and morbidity by 19% and 36%, respectively. Moreover, VP/BKP reduces by 77% the 12-month risk of infection from any origin. KEY POINTS: • Compared to non-surgical management, vertebral augmentation reduces the 12-month risk of all-cause mortality by 19% and all-cause morbidity by 36%. • Vertebral augmentation reduces the 12-month risk of infection morbidity from any origin by 77%.

Percutaneous cryoablation for advanced and refractory extra-abdominal desmoid tumors.

PURPOSE: To assess efficacy and safety of percutaneous cryoablation (CA) for advanced and refractory extra-abdominal desmoid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 30 consecutive patients with symptomatic desmoid tumors evolving after "wait and watch" periods, and despite medical treatment, treated by CA between 2007 and 2019. Progression free survival (PFS), objective response rate, pain reduction (decreased of visual analogic scale pain (VAS)[Formula: see text] 3 or disappearance of pain), total volume lesion (TVL) and complications were documented. Kaplan Meier method was used to outline PFS. Paired sample t test was used to compare volume of tumors before treatment and at 1 and 3 year. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 18.5 months (range 6-93 months, interquartile range (IQR): 12-55), the PFS was 85.1% at 1 year and 77.3% at 3 years. Objective response was obtained for 80% of patients with a complete response for 43% patients. Pain reduction was obtained for 96.7% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 90.3, 100) of patients. Median volume of desmoid tumor before treatment was 124.1cm3 (range 2-1727cm3, IQR: 54-338cm3). Median change of TLV after ablation was 66.6% (95% CI: 37.2, 72.3; p = 0.002) at 1 year and 76.4% (95% CI: 59.1, 89.8; p = 0.002) at 3 year. Adverse events rate was 36.6%, the most common was edema and temporary increase of pain in the days following CA. Four patients experienced a major complication (13.3%): 2 skin necrosis, 1 infection and 1 brachial plexopathy. CONCLUSION: CA is an effective treatment for advanced and refractory extra-abdominal desmoid tumor, that induces durable responses.

Percutaneous thermal ablation of sacral metastases: Assessment of pain relief and local tumor control.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively report on safety, pain relief and local tumor control achieved with percutaneous ablation of sacral bone metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2009 to June 2020, 23 consecutive patients (12 women and 11 men; mean age, 60±8 [SD] years; median, 60; range: 48-80 years) with 23 sacral metastases underwent radiofrequency (RFA) or cryo-ablation (CA), with palliative or curative intent at our institution. Patients' demographics and data pertaining to treated metastases, procedure-related variables, safety, and clinical evolution following ablation were collected and analyzed. Pain was assessed with numerical pain rating scale (NPRS). RESULTS: Sixteen (70%) patients were treated with palliative and 7 (30%) with curative intent. Mean tumor diameter was 38±19 (SD) mm (median, 36; range: 11-76). External radiation therapy had been performed on five metastases (5/23; 22%) prior to ablation. RFA was used in 9 (39%) metastases and CA in the remaining 14 (61%). Thermo-protective measures and adjuvant bone consolidation were used whilst treating 20 (87%) and 8 (35%) metastases, respectively. Five (22%) minor complications were recorded. At mean 31±21 (SD) (median, 32; range: 2-70) months follow-up mean NPRS was 2±2 (SD) (median, 1; range: 0-6) vs. 5±1 (median, 5; range: 4-8; P<0.001) at the baseline. Three metastases out of 7 (43%) undergoing curative ablation showed local progression at mean 4±4 (SD) (median, 2; range: 1-8) months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ablation of sacral metastases is safe and results in significant long-lasting pain relief. Local tumor control seems sub-optimal; however, further investigations are needed to confirm these findings due to paucity of data.

Complications of percutaneous image-guided screw fixation: An analysis of 94 consecutive patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the safety profile of percutaneous image-guided screw fixation (PIGSF) for insufficiency, impending or pathological fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2012 to April 2020, all consecutive patients who underwent PIGSF were retrospectively included in the study. Patient characteristics, fracture type, procedural data and complications were analyzed. Complications were divided into per-procedural, early (<24hours) and delayed (>24hours) and classified into minor (grade 1-2) and major complications (grade 3-5) according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. RESULTS: A total of 110 fractures (40 insufficiency [36%], 53 pathological [48.5%] and 17 impending [15.5%] fractures) in 94 patients (48 women, 46 men; mean age, 62.7±12.7 [SD] years; age range: 32-88 years) were treated with PIGSF during 95 procedures. Twenty-four-hours follow-up was available for all patients, and>24-hours follow-up was available for 79 (79/110; 71.8%) fractures in 69 (69/94; 73.4%) patients. Per-procedural complications occurred in 3/110 fractures (2.7%, all minor). Early complications were reported in 4/110 fractures (3.6%, 1 major and 3 minor) and delayed ones in 14/79 fractures (17.7%, 5 major and 9 minor). The most frequent major delayed complication was infection (3/79; 3.8%). CONCLUSION: The rate of per-procedural and early (within 24hours) complications following PIGSF is extremely low with most complications being minor, with major complications being delayed ones (>24hours).