LAUSR

A 75-year-old woman with a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (FIGO staging IIa: T2a, N0, M0) was treated with neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, followed by laparoscopic bilateral hysteroannessiectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. One year later, recurrent disease at the vaginal dome was detected and treated with cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy (4500Gy total), with a complete response. After 2 years, she developed additional lesions at the right iliac fossa for which cisplatin and topotecan were administered, with a partial response. The patient was subsequently enrolled in an experimental trial and received 10 cycles of atezolizumab and tiragolumab. One year later, two solid lesions were detected close to the posterior (25mm) and lateral (35mm) bladder walls. The former lesion was treated with radiation therapy, but the second lesion could not be treated owing to close proximity to the bladder (▶Fig. 1 a, b). Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the peri-bladder nodule was offered to the patient and scheduled. Contrast-enhanced EUS showed some degree of contrast enhancement of the untreated nodule (▶Video 1). The 19 G RFA needle was inserted into the lesion and radiofrequency current was administered at 50W until increase of impedance on the RFA generator (▶Fig. 1 c). In total, five RFA treatments were delivered to cover the lesion. Post-RFA contrast-enhanced EUS showed absence of any residual enhancement (▶Fig. 1 d). Computed tomography 1 month later showed complete response of the treated nodule by modified RECIST criteria, with a size reduction (▶Video 1). This is the first report of the feasibility of EUS-RFA for treatment of a recurrent cervical tumor in the pelvis, for which no more treatment options were available. If proved safe, EUS-RFA alone or in combination with other treatment modalities, can become part of the therapeutic armamentarium for locally recurrent gynecologic cancers that respond poorly to standard approaches [1–4].