Percutaneous Combined Therapy for Painful Sternal Metastases: A Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation (RFTA) and Cementoplasty Protocol

Background: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) has recently been introduced for the treatment of painful bone metastases. We report the outcome of one combined protocol session of percutaneous RFTA and cementoplasty on a painful sternal breast cancer metastasis of a 66-year-old patient. Patients and Methods: A sternal lesion was identified at a repeated CT scan during the oncological follow-up. Due to severe chest pain, the patient was treated percutaneously to obtain pain relief and bone stabilization. Percutaneous RFTA was performed using a 15-gauge needle electrode (MIRAS TX-120) coaxially introduced through a 13-gauge bone biopsy needle. The lesion was heated up to 80°C for 3 minutes. A percutaneous injection of 1 cc polymethylmethacrylate in the central part of the lesion was performed immediately after the RFTA procedure. Results: Immediate symptomatic improvement was documented. Conclusion: Combined percutaneous therapy showed feasibility and effectiveness and can be considered as an alternative for the treatment of painful bone metastases.