Evaluation of Quality of Life Outcomes Following Palliative Treatment of Bone Metastases with Magnetic Resonance-guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: An International Multicentre Study

Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2018 Apr;30(4):233-242. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2017.12.023. Epub 2018 Jan 6.

Abstract

Aims: To determine quality of life (QoL) outcomes after palliation of pain from bone metastases using magnetic resonance-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (MR-guided HIFU), measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C15-PAL and the QLQ-BM22 questionnaires.

Materials and methods: Twenty patients undergoing MR-guided HIFU in an international multicentre trial self-completed the QLQ-C15-PAL and QLQ-BM22 questionnaires before and on days 7, 14, 30, 60 and 90 post-treatment. Descriptive statistics were used to represent changes in symptom and functional scales over time and to determine their clinical significance. QoL changes were compared in pain responders and non-responders (who were classified according to change in worst pain score and analgesic intake, between baseline and day 30).

Results: Eighteen patients had analysable QoL data. Clinically significant improvements were seen in the QoL scales of physical functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, constipation and pain in the 53% of patients who were classified as responders at day 30. No significant changes were seen in the 47% of patients who were non-responders at this time point.

Conclusion: Local treatment of pain from bone metastases with MR-guided HIFU, even in the presence of disseminated malignancy, has a substantial positive effect on physical functioning, and improves other symptomatic QoL measures. This indicated a greater response to treatment over and above pain control alone. MR-guided HIFU is non-invasive and should be considered for patients with localised metastatic bone pain and poor QoL.

Keywords: Bone metastases; cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP); high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU); magnetic resonance imaging; quality of life (QoL); thermal ablation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Bone Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cancer Pain / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Ultrasonic Therapy / methods*