A minimally invasive procedure called percutaneous cryoablation is showing strong potential as a treatment for umbilical endometriosis, a painful condition where endometrial-like tissue grows in or around the navel.
Researchers evaluated the technique in 17 women treated between 2017 and 2024. At a median follow-up of 22 months, 82% reported complete pain relief, and median pain scores dropped from 8.0 to 0.0 on the visual analogue scale.
Median nodule volume on MRI also decreased by 73%, from 2.98 cm³ to 0.90 cm³. Over 80% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the cosmetic outcome.
However, adverse events occurred in three patients, including two cases of superficial frostbite and one major complication requiring surgical debridement. The study's small, single-center design means larger trials are needed to confirm long-term safety.
Image-guided cryoablation may eventually offer patients a less invasive option for this rare form of endometriosis.