Abu Dhabi: A newly developed non-invasive procedure has successfully removed benign but painful bone tumours from two children, the Shaikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation announced in a statement sent today (May 31).
The surgery was performed on two patients, aged 10 and 16, suffering from osteoid osteoma, a tumour that can cause a dull, aching pain and that is more common in children and young adults. It was the first time that the procedure had been used in the United States, the statement said.
“Our team set out to provide a non-invasive treatment option for children with osteoid osteoma and we’re very pleased with the success of the first two treatments,” said Dr Karun Sharma, principal investigator for the osteoid osteoma trial at the Shaikh Zayed Institute.
“Both children we treated were very active before the onset of their tumours, one a soccer player and the other a swimmer, but because of the pain from the tumour, they were unable to enjoy these activities,” he added.
The Shaikh Zayed Institute is housed at the renowned Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington, and was established following a $150 million (Dh550 million) gift from the Abu Dhabi Government in 2009. The grant, which is used for both education and research, was made in honour of the UAE founding father and first president, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The institute itself aims to enhance the level of health care for children worldwide through the development of new techniques and methods.
In the past, osteoid osteoma was treated surgically in a procedure that involved scraping the tumour from the bone or removing the affected part of the bone. The most commonly used treatment method today is a minimally invasive one which uses radiofrequency, but still requires drilling into the bone through muscle and soft tissue. It also exposes the patient to ionising radiation.
In the technique developed by the Shaikh Zayed Institute, high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy uses sound wave energy to heat and destroy the targeted tumour under MRI guidance. This precise and controlled method does not require a scalpel or needle, greatly reducing the risk of complications like infections and bone fractures. It is also a faster treatment option, with expected total procedure time of an hour or less, the statement added.
The clinical trial to further develop and test the technique is currently open for enrolment at the Children’s National Medical Centre, and patients less than 25 years of age are eligible for it.
As reported by Gulf News earlier this year, the Institute is also currently involved in testing out other surgical methods, such as the effectiveness and safety of a highly-focused ultrasound beam, as well as a smartphone-enabled facial recognition software that could allow clinicians to screen newborns for genetic diseases.
