Microwave ablation of osteoid osteoma: initial experience and efficacy

Image-guided percutaneous microwave ablation has been used to treat adult osteoid osteomas but has not been thoroughly evaluated in the pediatric population.

To evaluate the technical feasibility and clinical efficacy of microwave ablation to treat osteoid osteomas in pediatric patients.

The electronic medical record and imaging archive were reviewed for 24 consecutive patients who had undergone microwave ablation of osteoid osteomas between January 1, 2015, and May 31, 2018, at a single tertiary care pediatric hospital. All patients were diagnosed by clinical and imaging criteria, and referred by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon after failing conservative management with pain medication. The average age of the patients was 13.3 years (range: 3–18 years), and the average size of the osteoid osteoma nidus was 8.8 mm (range: 5–22 mm). Technical success was defined as placement of the microwave antenna at the distal margin of the lesion nidus and achievement of the target ablation temperature. Clinical findings were assessed pre- and post-ablation and clinical success was defined as complete relief of pain without pain medication at 1-month follow-up. The number and severity of complications were also documented.

Clinical success was achieved in 100% of patients (24/24), with all reporting complete cessation of pain medication use 1 week after treatment and 0/10 pain at 1 month. There were 4 minor complications (17%) including access site numbness and a minor soft-tissue infection. There were no major complications.

Microwave ablation is a technically feasible and clinically effective treatment for pediatric osteoid osteomas.