Actinic keratosis (AK) is the frequent precancerous cutaneous lesion, with the potential to progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. A study evaluated the efficacy of 20-MHz high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as a new treatment modality for AK.

The study enrolled patients with AK lesions (grades I–III) treated with HIFU, who were assessed clinically 3 months after therapy. 

The following observations were made-

• 21 patients (14 men, 7 women) with 108 AK lesions (grades I–III) were enrolled for the study.
• The mean was 72.6 years.
• 72.2% of lesions showed clinically complete resolution of the actinic damage after treatment.
• 26% of lesions showed a reduction of the AK grade, or partial response, after the therapy.
• Short yet annoying pain was experienced by the majority of the patients during the procedure.
• Late adverse effects of the therapy, like hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation and erythema were described in only a few areas of the lesions.

Thus, 20-MHz HIFU could serve as an effective and safe alternative treatment for AK.

Source- Seyed Jafari SM, Cazzaniga S, Bossart S, Feldmeyer L, Pelloni L, van Rhyn M, Angermeier S, Adatto M, Hunger R, E, Heidemeyer K. Efficacy Assessment of the High-Frequency High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound as a New Treatment for Actinic Keratosis. Dermatology, 2021. doi: 10.1159/000520536