Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with painful metastatic cancer to the bone. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the body without damaging surrounding normal tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How it Works<\/strong> Advantages<\/strong> For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a noninvasive, radiation-free alternative to conventional therapy with less risk of complications and lower cost. It is a low-morbidity treatment that allows for a quick return to normal life (usually the next day). A single therapy session can provide rapid and durable resolution of bone metastasis pain, and focused ultrasound pain relief does not have the adverse side effects of pain medications. It can also be repeated, if necessary<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following geographical regions have one or more focused ultrasound devices approved to treat painful bone metastases: USA (FDA), Europe (CE Mark), Korea (KFDA), Asia, Canada, Israel, India, Latin America and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatments are reimbursed in Italy and Germany. Most major health insurers in the US also cover focused ultrasound for bone metastases. In other countries, coverage may be available on a case-by-case or site basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is an international study<\/strong><\/a> of focused ultrasound in addition to radiation for bone metastatic disease. The Foundation updates these pages regularly, but with the increasing number of clinical trials, we want to be sure that our audience has the latest information available. Therefore, we also added the website search information for the above trials. If you click here<\/strong><\/a>, it will take you to the latest information available from https:\/\/www.clinicaltrials.gov\/<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n See a list of treatment sites ><\/a> Search for a treatment center or clinical trial near you.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chlorogiannis\u00a0DD,\u00a0Koumadoraki\u00a0E,\u00a0Stouras\u00a0I,\u00a0Nikolakea\u00a0M, Efthymiou P,\u00a0Moschovaki-Zeiger O, Massari F, Moussa M,\u00a0Filippiadis\u00a0D.\u00a0Metastatic Bone Disease Ablation and Augmentation for Local Tumor Control: A Narrative Review<\/strong><\/a>. Br J\u00a0Radiol. 2026 Jan\u00a013:tqag010.\u00a0doi: 10.1093\/bjr\/tqag010. PMID: 41530106\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202fSassi R,\u00a0Gazzotti\u00a0S,\u00a0Aparisi\u00a0G\u00f3mez MP, Donati CM, Morganti AG, Weber MA,\u00a0Ghanouni\u00a0P, Napoli A,\u00a0Bazzocchi\u00a0A.\u00a0Focused ultrasound-mediated drug delivery systems: a technological overview, possible musculoskeletal applications, and future directions<\/strong><\/a>. [Original Title:\u00a0Verabreichung\u00a0von\u00a0Medikamenten\u00a0mittels\u00a0fokussierten\u00a0Ultraschalls:\u00a0ein\u00a0technologischer\u00a0\u00dcberblick,\u00a0m\u00f6gliche\u00a0Anwendungen\u00a0am\u00a0Bewegungsapparat\u00a0und\u00a0weitere\u00a0Perspektive.]\u00a0Rofo. 2026 Jan 30.\u00a0doi: 10.1055\/a-2760-5392. PMID: 41617152\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aginsky\u00a0R,\u00a0Leblang\u00a0S, Miller E,\u00a0Skoglind\u00a0B,\u00a0Nyska\u00a0A, Rebhun N,\u00a0Gofeld\u00a0M, Aubry JF, Hananel A.\u00a0High intensity focused ultrasound periosteal ablation in an animal model: potential for palliation of bone metastases<\/strong><\/a>. Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2543330.\u00a0doi: 10.1080\/02656736.2025.2543330.\u00a0Epub\u00a02025 Aug 7. PMID: 40775539\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sim\u00f5es Corr\u00eaa\u00a0Galendi\u00a0J,\u00a0Nijholt\u00a0I,\u00a0Hovenier\u00a0R, Slotman J,\u00a0Phernambucq\u00a0E, Stock S, Bos C, Braat M,\u00a0Verkooijen\u00a0H, Boomsma M, M\u00fcller D.\u00a0Cost-utility of focused ultrasound compared to radiotherapy for Dutch patients with uncomplicated non-spinal bone metastases<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0Eur\u00a0J Health Econ. 2025 Dec 5.\u00a0doi: 10.1007\/s10198-025-01861-9. PMID: 41348289\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suresh S, Dalili D, Ilaslan H. Percutaneous ablation of bone metastatic disease<\/strong><\/a>. Br J Radiol. 2025 Mar 20:tqaf061. doi: 10.1093\/bjr\/tqaf061. PMID: 40108356 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hovenier R, Bos C, Boomsma MF, Gr\u00fcll H, Morganti AG, Verkooijen HM, Verkooijen HM. Interrater Agreement in Assessment of Eligibility for Magnetic Resonance-Guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU) of Patients with Painful Bone Metastases<\/strong><\/a>. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2025 Jan 21:S1051-0443(25)00037-5. doi: 10.1016\/j.jvir.2025.01.025. PMID: 39848325 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yao PF, Hu A, Mansour F, Nadeem I, Jiang Y, Athreya S. Image Guided Energy Ablation for Palliation of Painful Bony Metastases – A Systematic Review<\/strong><\/a>. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2024 May 28:S1051-0443(24)00374-9. doi: 10.1016\/j.jvir.2024.05.011. PMID: 38815751 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yin X, Tang N, Fan X, Wang S, Zhang J, Gu J, Wang H. Mid-term efficacy grading evaluation and predictive factors of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery for painful bone metastases: a multi-center study<\/a>. <\/strong>Eur Radiol. 2023 Feb;33(2):1465-1474. doi: 10.1007\/s00330-022-09118-2. Epub 2022 Sep 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Napoli A, De Maio A, Alfieri G, Gasperini C, Scipione R, Campanacci L, Siepe G, De Felice F, Siniscalchi B, Chiurchioni L, Tombolini V, Donati DM, Morganti AG, Ghanouni P, Catalano C, Bazzocchi A. Focused Ultrasound and External Beam Radiation Therapy for Painful Bone Metastases: A Phase II Clinical Trial<\/a><\/strong>. Radiology. 2023 Jan 3:211857. doi: 10.1148\/radiol.211857. Online ahead of print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sim\u00f5es Corr\u00eaa Galendi J, Siefen AC, Moretti DM, Yeo SY, Gr\u00fcll H, Bratke G, Morganti AG, Bazzocchi A, Gasperini C, De Felice F, Blanco Sequeiros R, Huhtala M, Nijholt IM, Boomsma MF, Bos C, Verkooijen HM, M\u00fcller D, Stock S. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Painful Bone Metastases in Europe, A Group Concept Mapping Study<\/a>.<\/strong> Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 7;20(2):1084. doi: 10.3390\/ijerph20021084.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yeo SY, Bratke G, Gr\u00fcll H. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Treatment of Bone Malignancies-20 Years of History<\/strong><\/a>. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Dec 24;15(1):108. doi: 10.3390\/cancers15010108.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slotman DJ, Bartels MMTJ, Ferrer CJ, Bos C, Bartels LW, Boomsma MF, Phernambucq ECJ, Nijholt IM, Morganti AG, Siepe G, Buwenge M, Gr\u00fcll H, Bratke G, Yeo SY, Blanco Sequeiros R, Minn H, Huhtala M, Napoli A, De Felice F, Catalano C, Bazzocchi A, Gasperini C, Campanacci L, Sim\u00f5es Corr\u00eaa Galendi J, M\u00fcller D, Braat MNGJA, Moonen C, Verkooijen HM, Verkooijen HM. Focused Ultrasound and RadioTHERapy for non-invasive palliative pain treatment in patients with bone metastasis: a study protocol for the three armed randomized controlled FURTHER trial<\/a>.<\/strong> Trials. 2022 Dec 29;23(1):1061. doi: 10.1186\/s13063-022-06942-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces precise ablation (thermal destruction of tissue) of the pain-producing nerves around the cancer metastases without surgery, resulting in a significant reduction in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary options for treatment of painful bone metastases include radiation and medications. In some cases, surgery is considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRegulatory Approval and Reimbursement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Clinical Trials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There is a clinical trial<\/a> <\/strong>in Canada that is treating bone metastasis in children ages 5-17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See a list of laboratory research sites ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFind a Treatment Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Notable Papers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n