Feasibility of focused ultrasound therapy for recurrent cervicitis with high‐risk human papillomavirus infection

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of focused ultrasound therapy for recurrent cervicitis with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. METHODS: This was a prospective clinical study, in which 20 patients with HR-HPV-positive recurrent cervicitis were enrolled. Focused ultrasound therapy was performed by one gynecologist. All patients were followed up for 6 months after ultrasound therapy. Telephone interviews, colposcopic examinations and Hybrid Capture II tests were performed to assess the safety and effectiveness of focused ultrasound therapy for HR-HPV-positive cervicitis. RESULTS: Ultrasound therapy was tolerated well, and no severe complications were observed in any patient. Vaginal discharge was found intermittently in 95% of patients. Without any intervention this disappeared 1 month after ultrasound therapy. Patients' symptoms were relieved significantly by ultrasound therapy, including 88.9% patients who had abundant leukorrhea, 80% who had pelvic pain and 87.5% who had postcoital bleeding. No colposcopic evidence of cervicitis remained postoperatively in 75% of patients, and cytological examination showed that the lesions had disappeared in 80% of patients. Follow-up HPV testing revealed that 75% of patients presented negative HR-HPV infection following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Focused ultrasound therapy is feasible and effective in the treatment of patients with HR-HPV-positive cervicitis. It may provide a useful non-invasive treatment for recurrent cervicitis with HR-HPV infection.