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

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

15

Phase

  • 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 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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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

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

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Collaborators

Hologic, Inc.

Investigators

  • 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)

July 14, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 22, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

January 22, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 10, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 10, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

November 23, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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.

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