Korean J Pain.  2014 Jan;27(1):72-76. 10.3344/kjp.2014.27.1.72.

Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation in Painful Myeloma of the Clavicle

• Gharaei H
• Imani F
• Vakily M

• KMID: 2278206
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2014.27.1.72

Abstract

A 57-year-old male patient had myeloma. He had severe pain in the left clavicle that did not respond to radiotherapy; therefore, it was treated with radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA). Under fluoroscopic guidance, two RF needles at a distance of 1.5 cm from each other were inserted into the mass and conventional radiofrequency (90degrees C and 60 seconds) at two different depths (1 cm apart) was applied. Then, 2 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine along with triamcinolone 40 mg was injected in each needle. The visual analogue pain score (VAS from 0 to 10) was decreased from 8 to 0. In the next 3 months of follow-up, the patient was very satisfied with the procedure and the mass gradually became smaller. There were no complications. This study shows that RFTA could be a useful method for pain management in painful osteolytic myeloma lesions in the clavicle.

Keyword

clavicle; myeloma; radiofrequency thermal ablation

MeSH Terms

Clavicle*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Needles
Pain Management
Radiotherapy
Triamcinolone
Triamcinolone

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Left clavicular mass.

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  Fig. 2 CT-scans of the chest and osteolytic clavicular mass on the left.

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  Fig. 3 Radiofrequency needles in the clavicle.

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  Fig. 4 Anterior-posterior fluoroscopic view of the needles in the clavicle.

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  Fig. 5 Lateral oblique fluoroscopic view of needles in the clavicle.

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