The novel treatment of children with viral warts using microwave technology

September 17, 2023

Existing treatments for warts are suboptimal and encompass destructive treatments, virucidal agents, anti‐proliferative agents, and immunological therapies. In this context, microwave technology has emerged as a potential treatment option.

Cutaneous warts, caused by infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), are prevalent among school‐age children, with an estimated prevalence of up to 44%.

These warts can cause pain, impair mobility, and result in psychological distress. Existing treatments for warts are suboptimal and encompass destructive treatments, virucidal agents, anti‐proliferative agents, and immunological therapies. In this context, microwave technology has emerged as a potential treatment option.

Microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and can induce rapid heating to sub‐ablative temperatures (<50°C) to modulate immune responses against HPV infected cells. The Swift microwave unit (Emblation Ltd.) is a medical device licenced in the UK, EU, and cleared in the US, which allows the delivery of microwave energy through the application of a probe.

A previous study using microwaves has demonstrated efficacy for plantar warts in adult patients but there is limited data on its benefit and tolerability in a paediatric cohort.

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The treatment of plantar warts using microwave – A review of 85 consecutive cases in the United States (2023)

June 16, 2023

We undertook a retrospective review and identified records of 85 patients who underwent a course of microwave treatment at a single US-based podiatry centre. Efficacy was analyzed on the basis on intention-to-treat.

Aditya K. Gupta MD, PhD, Tong Wang MSc, Elizabeth A. Cooper BSc, Robert M. Conenello DPM, Ivan R. Bristow PhD, FRCPodM

Plantar warts (verrucae plantaris) are a common source of pain for patients and are often refractory to treatment. Previous work has shown a high clearance rate of verrucae using a surface-based microwave device (Swift®).

Aims

To assess the efficacy, defined as the complete visible clearance of warts, in patients with verrucae plantaris receiving microwave treatment.

Patients

We undertook a retrospective review and identified records of 85 patients who underwent a course of microwave treatment at a single US-based podiatry centre. Efficacy was analyzed on the basis on intention-to-treat.

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Microwave therapy for the treatment of plantar warts (2023)

June 15, 2023

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of microwave therapy for the treatment of plantar warts and to determine the clinical factors associated with plantar wart resolution.

Wendy Hagon, Jonathan Hagon, Greer Noble, Angela Brenton-Rule, Sarah Stewart & Ivan Bristow

Plantar warts, or verrucae plantaris, are common lesions causing considerable pain during weightbearing activity. Although current treatment modalities have low success rates, microwave therapy has been introduced as a promising intervention. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of microwave therapy for the treatment of plantar warts and to determine the clinical factors associated with plantar wart resolution.

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Microwave hyperthermia represses human papillomavirus oncoprotein activity and induces cell death due to cell stress in 3D tissue models of anogenital precancers and cancers (2023)

April 14, 2023

Hyperthermia is a well-accepted cancer therapy. Microwaves provide a very precise, targeted means of hyperthermia and are currently used to treat plantar warts caused by cutaneous-infective human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Other HPV genotypes infecting the anogenital mucosa cause genital warts or preneoplastic lesions or cervical cancer. Effective, non-ablative therapies for these morbid HPV-associated lesions are lacking. Read the full paper

Hyperthermia is a well-accepted cancer therapy. Microwaves provide a very precise, targeted means of hyperthermia and are currently used to treat plantar warts caused by cutaneous-infective human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Other HPV genotypes infecting the anogenital mucosa cause genital warts or preneoplastic lesions or cervical cancer. Effective, non-ablative therapies for these morbid HPV-associated lesions are lacking.

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Microwave Therapy for Plantar Warts: A Chart Review

March 13, 2023

Authors: Arpreet Dhinsa, Fatima Daknish, Gladis Philip, Sahil Amin, Tracey Vlahovic

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Paediatric Cutaneous Warts and Verrucae: An Update

December 12, 2022

This paper aims to review recent evidence from published reviews and other research regarding cutaneous (non-genital) warts in children with a specific focus, where possible, on plantar lesions (verrucae).

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Potential Use of Microwave Technology in Dermatology

June 11, 2022

Microwaves are used in medicine for diagnostics, and treatment of cancer. Recently, novel microwave devices (Swift®, Emblation Ltd, UK and miraDry®, Miramar Labs Inc., CA) have been cleared by the FDA and Health Canada for various dermatological conditions.

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Applications of Microwave Energy in Medicine

March 10, 2022

This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding the implementation of microwave technologies within the medical industry.

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Post-marketing surveillance for Microwave Treatment of Plantar and Common Warts in Adults

February 9, 2022

A total of 126 clinics responded (59.6%). 6998 adults (

A handheld microwave device (Swift®, Emblation Limited) has been licenced and available for clinical use since 2016 in the fields of podiatry and dermatology and has been extensively used in treating cutaneous warts. As part of post marketing surveillance by the manufacturer, an online 79-item survey was distributed to podiatry clinics in the United Kingdom with a Swift® device. A total of 126 clinics responded (59.6%). 6998 adults (<65 years) underwent wart treatment with microwave (81.9% plantar warts; 18.1% common, non-plantar warts). The median efficacy rate was reported as 79.2% (65.9 – 87.5%) and 82.3% (71.4 – 100%) respectively. In older adults (over 65 years) efficacy rates were similar for both sites: plantar (73.2%, 50-90%, n=1232) and non-plantar (80.0%, 42.1-100%, n=276). A median of three treatments was required to bring about resolution. Sub-group analysis of the data revealed good clearance rates in patients with diabetes (79.6%), but less in immunocompromised individuals (61.3%) and those with autoimmune disease (58.6%). Overall, mean user satisfaction was rated as “very satisfied” on a 10-point scale (n=93 practices). A small number of adverse events were reported including blistering, superficial ulceration and poor healing were reported (n=7). Despite the limitations of a post-marketing questionnaire survey, these data provide good evidence of the safety and efficacy for Swift® microwave treatment of cutaneous warts.

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Successful Treatment of Hard Corns in Two Patients Using Microwave Energy

November 8, 2020

The authors report 2 cases of patients with persistent and painful plantar corns who underwent microwave treatment of their plantar corns with a successful, lasting reduction in pain levels after the intervention.

Corns are a common foot problem accounting for nearly half of all problems seen within podiatry and chiropody clinics. Hard corns are concentrated areas of hyperkeratosis within the stratum corneum, typically found on the weight-bearing (plantar) surfaces of the feet. For many patients, they are a source of pain and have been shown to negatively affect a patient’s activity and quality of life. Most of the currently available treatments are short-lived in their effectiveness, with corns frequently being recurrent, requiring repeated visits to remove the painful lesions. The use of handheld microwave devices indicated for surface applications has demonstrated effectiveness in clearing recalcitrant plantar warts and significantly reducing the pain associated with them. The authors report 2 cases of patients with persistent and painful plantar corns who underwent microwave treatment of their plantar corns with a successful, lasting reduction in pain levels after the intervention.

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