Percutaneous combined therapy for painful sternal metastases: a radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) and cementoplasty protocol.

BACKGROUND Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) has recently been introduced for the treatment of painful bone metastases. We report the outcome of one combined protocol session of percutaneous RFTA and cementoplasty on a painful sternal breast cancer metastasis of a 66-year-old patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS A sternal lesion was identified at a repeated CT scan during the oncological follow-up. Due to severe chest pain, the patient was treated percutaneously to obtain pain relief and bone stabilization. Percutaneous RFTA was performed using a 15-gauge needle electrode (MIRAS TX-120) coaxially introduced through a 13-gauge bone biopsy needle. The lesion was heated up to 80 degrees C for 3 minutes. A percutaneous injection of 1 cc polymethylmethacrylate in the central part of the lesion was performed immediately after the RFTA procedure. RESULTS Immediate symptomatic improvement was documented. CONCLUSION Combined percutaneous therapy showed feasibility and effectiveness and can be considered as an alternative for the treatment of painful bone metastases.