Sound waves zap breast lumps: no scalpel needed?
NCT ID NCT03044054
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a device that uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat breast fibroadenomas—noncancerous lumps. 113 women received the treatment, and researchers measured pain, anxiety, and lump size. The goal was to see if HIFU can safely shrink these lumps without surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device
- What this could lead to
- If successful, HIFU could offer a non-surgical option to shrink breast fibroadenomas, reducing pain and anxiety.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed early-stage study without a control group, so results may not confirm effectiveness. The procedure may not work for all fibroadenoma types.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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113 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2017
- Finished
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Apr 2026
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Female patients 18 years or older diagnosed with breast fibroadenoma and presenting at least one fibroadenoma. 2. Diagnosis of fibroadenoma must be based on: 1. Clinical examination 2. Ultrasound image alone for patients under 35 years old. For women older than 35 years, a mammogram will be performed in addition to ultrasound. The BI-RADS score of this mammogram must be 2 or 3. BI-RADS score of 4 is eligible if biopsy indicates fibroadenoma with concordance. 3. Histologic confirmation by core needle biopsy. 3. Patient is a candidate for the surgery. 4. The fibroadenoma treatment volume must be at least 5 mm and no more than 26 mm from the skin. This criterion should be evaluated immediately prior treatment, once the breast is immobilized and potentially compressed. 5. The rib cage should not be in the prefocal ultrasound path or behind the target fibroadenoma (minimum distance from the posterior wall of the fibroadenoma must be at least 10 mm). This criterion shall be evaluated immediately prior to treatment, once breast is immobilized and potentially compressed. 6. The fibroadenoma is 1 cm or greater at its largest dimension and no less than 7.5 mm in the anterior-posterior dimension (measured by ultrasound). Focal point for HIFU treatment must also be at least 3 mm from any border of the fibroadenoma. 7. Patient's fibroadenoma size is greater or equal to 0.2 cc and less than 10 cc in volume (measured by ultrasound on the day of the procedure). 8. Fibroadenoma is palpable. 9. Pain ≥ 30mm/100mm measured on VAS as a maximum level during the last 30 days 10. Anxiety ≥ 30mm/100mm measured on VAS as a maximum level during the last 30 days 11. Patient has signed a written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patient is pregnant or nursing. 2. Presence of calcified fibroadenoma. Calcification will be determined with mammography. In women \> 35 years old, the diagnostic mammogram should be evaluated for calcification. In women ≤ 35 years old, a single view mammogram of the affected breast is sufficient for evaluation of calcification. Women ≤ 35 years old will be excluded based on the findings of calcification on a single view mammogram. 3. Patient with history of breast cancer or history of laser or radiation therapy to the target breast. 4. Patient with breast implants in the target breast. 5. Patient with a breast cyst within the fibroadenoma to be treated. 6. Patient's fibroadenoma not clearly visible on the ultrasound images (in B mode) at the inclusion visit. 7. Patient participating in another clinical trial involving an investigational drug, device or biologic.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Bellevue Hospital Center
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Montefiore-Einstein Center for Cancer Care
New York, New York, United States
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New York Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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University of Virginia Health system
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States
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