Main results
We included 7 studies involving 405 patients. Compared with the surgery group, the immediate posttreatment visual analogue scale (VAS) score was lower in the HIFU group (mean difference [MD] -1.58, 95% CI -2.56 to -0.59), the length of hospitalization was shorter in the HIFU group (MD -1.95 days, 95% CI −2.43 to −1.48), and the incidence of adverse events was lower in the HIFU group (relative risk 0.32, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.65). There was no significant difference in the symptom recurrence rate, VAS score at the 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups, or treatment time between the two groups.