Radiofrequency Ablation of Adenomyosis

February 28, 2026 updated by: Katherine Smith, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

RAFA Trial: Radiofrequency Ablation of Adenomyosis

To observe the effects of radiofrequency ablation on adenomyosis through the pathological analysis of treated tissue that has been removed during planned hysterectomy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The ProVu™ System (Hologic, Inc., Boston, MA) is designed and cleared by the FDA as a treatment method for soft tissue, including the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. After locating the general region of the target tissue, a laparoscopic ultrasound transducer is placed on the serosal surface of the uterus to identify the size, location, and number of focal adenomyosis (or adenomyomas). Under ultrasound guidance, the treatment probe (handpiece) is inserted through the serosal surface and into the target tissue. The electrode array containing multiple thermocouples is then deployed according to the size of the target tissue and the position is verified using the ultrasound transducer. Once correctly placed, the surgeon initiates ablation by pressing the foot pedal. Continuous temperature feedback is displayed on the generator screen. For safety purposes, dispersive pads are placed on the patient's thighs to disperse electrical current. If the target tissue is irregular or large, the needle array is retracted and the probe repositioned within the same area under ultrasound guidance. The ablation is repeated until the area of interest is ablated. Overlapping ablations may be required. At the conclusion of the final ablation, the surgeon retracts the array withdraws the probe through the serosal surface of the uterus while coagulating the track to avoid bleeding. Once hemostasis is confirmed and all target tissue has been treated, the surgeon proceeds with the planned hysterectomy and the tissue is examined by a pathologist to assess the ablation zones within the adenomyoma or focal adenomyosis.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
15

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390
        • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • planning to undergo an abdominal, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted hysterectomy due to benign conditions
  • uterus < 16 weeks gestational size if undergoing a laparoscopic or robotic procedure (no size limit for patients planning to undergo a transabdominal hysterectomy)
  • at least one area of focal or diffuse adenomyosis or adenomyomas that is/are contralateral to any fibroids as determined by MRI
  • able to provide informed consent
  • suitable candidates for surgery (have passed a standard pre-operative health assessment)
  • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • require emergent hysterectomy or vaginal hysterectomy
  • have a uterus > 16 weeks gestational size if undergoing a laparoscopic or robotic procedure (no size limit for patients planning to undergo a transabdominal hysterectomy)
  • have fibroids in the proximity of the target adenomyosis (same side, similar location)
  • are not appropriate surgical candidates as determined during pre-operative health assessment
  • are unable or unwilling to undergo a hysterectomy
  • are pregnant or lactating
  • are under the age of 18 years
  • have active pelvic inflammatory disease
  • have a history of gynecologic malignancy within the past 3 years
  • are unable to give informed consent
  • have an implantable uterine or fallopian tube device for contraception
  • are not English speaking

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Other: RF Treatment
At the time of the subject's trans-abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy, the ProVu System will be used to apply RF treatment to one or two adenomas, focal areas of adenomyosis, or diffuse adenomyosis.
Device: RF Treatment
ProVu treatment probe will be energized and RF energy delivered in a pre-programmed, controlled method based on the predetermined size of the affected tissue.
Other Names:
  • ProVu System

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Post-operative Evidence of Adenomyoma Tissue Ablation Effect by Area (n) as Assessed by Pathological Analysis
Time Frame: Post-intervention (i.e., within 4 hours of RF (radiofrequency) treatment and 2 hours of completion of hysterectomy)
Participants who provided at least one post-ablation tissue area for histological evaluation are included in the analysis population. The unit of analysis for this outcome is the individual tissue area (specimen/region). Each area is examined by a pathologist and assigned to one of categories: Treated areas with no adenomyois noted; Treated areas with definitive thermal artifact on serosa; Treated areas with documented thermal artifact on endometrium; Dilated, prominent more thick-walled / small ectatic vessels with thermal artifact on or around them; and Treated areas with adenomyosis identified microscopically. Counts in the results table are based on the total number of evaluated areas within each group.
Post-intervention (i.e., within 4 hours of RF (radiofrequency) treatment and 2 hours of completion of hysterectomy)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Hologic, Inc.

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Kimberly Kho, MD, Hawaii Pacific Health

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 14, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 22, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 22, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 10, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 10, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 23, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 28, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STU-2021-0741

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings