Innovative approaches to high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment for vulvar diseases

Background. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a technique of local non-invasive exposure to high-frequency ultrasound on deeply located tissues of the body. HIFU has currently found its application in aesthetic gynecology, particularly in the treatment of benign vulvar diseases, including lichen sclerosus. Case report. The authors present their own experience with HIFU used to treat two female patients with lichen sclerosus. The patients had a long history of lichen sclerosus and received repeated cycles of treatment with low-potency topical corticosteroids. The authors prescribed estrogen-containing Ovestin cream according to the standard regimen and one HIFU session. All the patients had a histological report confirming the diagnosis, which is necessary before HIFU exposure. After 3 and 6 months, the patients were invited to take part in repeat visits; the women noted the disappearance of itching complaints, and a local status improvement was visible even without optical equipment, which was then confirmed by a DySIS digital colposcope. Conclusion. Our experience confirmed the clinical efficacy of HIFU in treating women with lichen sclerosus. Not a single relapse of the disease was detected 6 months after the session. The presented clinical case showed that it might be possible to achieve the desired effect by only one session.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, HIFU, lichen sclerosus, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), genitourinary syndrome of menopause