Short- and long-term efficacy of focused ultrasound therapy for non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short- and long-term efficacy and influential factors of focused ultrasound for the treatment of non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva (NNEDV).

DESIGN: A retrospective observational study.

SETTING: A gynaecologic department in a single centre in China.

POPULATION: Patients with NNEDV were included in this study: 85 patients were diagnosed with lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), 44 patients with vulva lichen sclerosus (VLS), and seven patients with lichen planus (LP).

METHODS: A total of 136 eligible patients with NNEDV were treated with focused ultrasound. After the treatment, based on changes in the degree of symptom severity and local skin signs (lesion size, skin colour and elasticity) before and after treatment, the treatment effectiveness for each patient was assessed. We further analysed the relations among pathologic type, age, course and curative rate. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square (McNemar) test.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Improvement in the symptoms and physical signs and the predictive factors.

RESULTS: Symptom relief was observed in all patients. The appearance and colour of the vulva returned to normal after the ultrasound treatment. Complete remission (CR) occurred in 68 of 136 (50%) patients (41 patients with LSC and 12 patients with VLS). The response rate was 93.38% (127/136). Seven patients who had a poor response to the first session of treatment were treated again with ultrasound therapy and a good response was observed. No severe complications were observed. There was no significant difference in treatment results among the different pathological types (P > 0.05). However, the course of the disease and the age of the patients were related to the treatment results (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: NNEDV can be treated with focused ultrasound effectively and safely. The course of the disease and the age of the patients may be predictive factors.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Patients with non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva can be safely and effectively treated with focused ultrasound. No significant difference in treatment results was observed between the different types of non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva.