High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation: a new strategy to manage primary bone tumors

Purpose of review: This review attempts to summarize the current status of the experimental and clinical studies using high intensity focused ultrasound ablation to manage malignant primary bone tumors. Recent findings: A novel extracorporeal and noninvasive strategy for managing solid tumors compared with surgical removal or other minimally invasive modalities, high intensity focused ultrasound ablation has been used mostly in China to treat human patients. By using imaging techniques like computed tomography and magnetic resonance images, as well as pathologic examination, efficacy of this strategy for the treatment of primary bone tumors were evaluated and compared. Results have shown good potentiality of high intensity focused ultrasound ablation in complete tumor ablation and improvement of secondary host anti-tumor immunity. Summary: Although further investigations on long-term follow-up results after high intensity focused ultrasound ablation are still needed, this modality may be one of the most promising treatment technologies for bone tumors and limb salvage in the future.