Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40301871›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2025

Computer-navigated, stereotactic navigation for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteomas: dose comparison and procedure times.

Chiara Schmidli, Frank Mosler, Danielle V Bower, Gerd Nöldge, Johannes Heverhagen, Nando Mertineit

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Chiara SchmidliDepartement Für Diagnostische, Interventionelle und Pädiatrische Radiologie, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. chiara.giancamilli@outlook.com.
Frank MoslerDepartement Für Diagnostische, Interventionelle und Pädiatrische Radiologie, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Danielle V BowerQuadraticMed LLC, Blegistrasse 7, 6340, Baar, Switzerland.
Gerd NöldgeDepartement Für Diagnostische, Interventionelle und Pädiatrische Radiologie, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Johannes HeverhagenDepartement Für Diagnostische, Interventionelle und Pädiatrische Radiologie, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Nando MertineitDepartement Für Diagnostische, Interventionelle und Pädiatrische Radiologie, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTreatment of medication-refractory osteoid osteoma is typically performed with minimally-invasive percutaneous techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation. Given the typically young age of the population of patients being treated, we sought to assess whether using a 3D CT guidance system reduces the number of required probe repositionings and the number of required CTs to validate probe positioning in order to reduce the radiation dosage to the patient.

methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the records of 19 patients who underwent procedures at our clinic amounting to a total of 27 ablations between 2012 and 2022. At the time of each procedure, the operating physician made the decision whether or not to use stereotactic navigation assistance. We analyzed the data using a Bayesian approach to elucidate possible differences between procedures conducted with or without navigation.

resultsOur results showed a statistically and clinically-significant administration of, on average, 200 mGy*cm greater radiation dosage to the patient when stereotactic navigation was used to guide RFA probe placement for ablation of osteoid osteomas compared with not using navigation assistance. There was a trend towards requiring one fewer probe repositioning with navigation assistance, however this was not statistically conclusive. There was no difference in the time required to achieve the target probe placement or in total procedure duration whether stereotactic navigation was used or not.

conclusionWhen utilizing a 3D-guided stereotactic navigation system, there is likely a learning phase before the potential benefits of such a system are realized. Additional radiation administration to the patient may result from the operator learning to properly use and trust the system. In our case, the data also likely reflect a bias in operator choice to use the navigation system when the lesions are more difficult to correctly target or multiple ablation positions are necessary, while choosing conventional imaging assistance for easily targetable tumors, which may conceal some of the benefit of using the navigation system.

Indexed as

Bone NeoplasmsOperative TimeOsteoma, OsteoidRadiofrequency AblationStereotaxic TechniquesSurgery, Computer-AssistedAdolescentAdultChildFemaleHumansImaging, Three-DimensionalMaleMiddle AgedRadiation DosageRetrospective StudiesGuided navigationOsteoid osteomaRadiation dosageRadiofrequency ablation

Identifiers

PMID40301871
PMCPMC12038928

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.