Comparison of efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound at different powers for patients with vulvar lichen simplex chronicus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of the treatment of vulvar lichen simplex chronicus (VLSC) using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) at different powers. METHODS: This retrospective study included 152 patients with VLSC. Among these patients, 70 were treated with HIFU at low power (level 2), and 82 were treated at normal power (level 3). The treatment responses, recurrence rates and intra- and postoperative complications were all compared. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in age, disease course, menopause status, lesion size and severity of symptoms. All patients received one session of HIFU therapy, and the treatment process was successful. No difference was found in the total response rate between the two groups at 1 (85.7% versus 87.8%, p = .35), 6 (80% versus 80.5%, p = .65) and 12 (80% versus 80.5%, p = .73) months after HIFU therapy. No significant difference was observed in the recurrence rate between the two groups at 6 (5.7% versus 9.8%, p = .36) and 12 (22.9% versus 26.8%, p = .57) months after HIFU treatment. Patients in the low-power group had a lower incidence of blisters (10% versus 23.3%, p = .04). CONCLUSION: Based on our results, low-power HIFU treatment can achieve a therapeutic effect similar to normal power HFU treatment for VLSC, but its incidence of side effects is lower.