Objective:

To assess and indirectly compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryoablation for breast fibroadenomas, emphasizing the implications for clinical practice.

Key Findings:

• HIFU achieved a tumor volume reduction of 54.4% at 6 months and 70.3% at 12 months, with significant heterogeneity (I² = 92.8%).
• Cryoablation showed greater volume reduction than HIFU, but quantitative aggregation was not possible due to insufficient data.
• Adverse event rates were 23% for HIFU and 7% for cryoablation, with significant heterogeneity in both groups.

Interpretation:

Both HIFU and cryoablation are effective and safe minimally invasive treatments for breast fibroadenomas, with cryoablation potentially offering better outcomes and fewer adverse effects; however, caution is warranted due to the limitations of the current evidence.

Limitations:

• The analysis was limited by the predominance of non-randomized single-arm studies, which may affect the reliability of the findings.
• Variability in data reporting and outcome metrics across studies further complicates the interpretation of results.

Conclusion:

Further high-quality comparative research is necessary to solidify the findings regarding the efficacy and safety of HIFU and cryoablation for breast fibroadenomas, emphasizing the need for robust evidence.