Two studies presented at the American Society of Spine Radiology (ASSR) 2014 Annual Symposium in Miami, USA, highlighted the benefits of targeted radiofrequency ablation therapy with the Dfine Star tumour ablation system. The studies demonstrated the ability of the Star system to provide significant relief to patients suffering from painful spinal metatases; in many cases, these patients had not responded to standard therapies, such as radiation or chemotherapy.
According to a press release, the first study, conducted by Bassem Georgy, assistant clinical professor of Radiology at the University of California, San Diego, USA, noted improvement in pain and functional status in all patients. The study also concluded that the targeted and minimally invasive nature of the Star system allowed treatment of all of the studied tumours regardless of their location.
The second study, conducted by Jack Jennings, director of Musculoskeletal and Spine Interventions at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology in St. Louis, USA, demonstrated the value of the Star system in treating patients who were not responsive to other standard treatments and who had tumours very close to the spinal cord. In addition to relieving pain, the study concluded that the Star system had successfully destroyed the lesions, and that in many patients no regrowth was observed during the study period.
“We are pleased with the continued success of Star in providing pain relief to the many cancer patients suffering from spinal tumours,” says Greg Barrett, chief executive officer of Dfine. “The therapy continues to gain momentum and we are gratified to see more clinicians embracing the technology to help their patients.”
