Comparative Analysis of Clinical Efficacy of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation and Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Benign Breast Tumors.

Introduction: This study compared the efficacy, complications, and related indicators of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation (HIFU) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for treating benign breast tumors, aiming to provide effective evidence-based support for clinical practice. Methods: This study is a retrospective study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from patients undergoing thermal ablation surgery at The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University between February 2021 and May 2024, divided into the HIFU group (147 cases, 231 tumors) and the RFA group (151 cases, 193 tumors), with perioperative indicators, postoperative efficacy, effective ablation rate, complications, prognosis, and satisfaction statistically analyzed. Results: The groups showed no significant differences in age, BMI, tumor diameter/volume, or proportion of tumors across size categories, ensuring comparability. Operative time was shorter for HIFU than RFA (p < 0.005), though hospital stay was longer for HIFU (p < 0.05). Intra/postoperative pain was lower in the HIFU group (p < 0.05). At 6 months post-op, volume reduction was greater with HIFU (p < 0.05); specifically, for tumors ≤1 cm no significant difference existed (p > 0.05), but for tumors >1-2 cm and >2-3 cm, HIFU showed superior volume reduction (p < 0.05). Overall volume change favored HIFU (p < 0.05). The effective ablation rate at 6 months was significantly higher for HIFU (p < 0.05), including for multiple lesions (p < 0.05). Postoperative pain scores (NRS) were significantly lower with HIFU (p < 0.05), and treatment satisfaction rates were significantly higher in the HIFU group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Both HIFU and RFA are safe and effective for benign breast tumors.