high intensity focused ultrasound



What is HIFU?

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), is a new noninvasive technique that utilizes the power of ultrasound to destroy deep-seated tissue with pinpoint accuracy for treatment of prostate cancer.

The treatment is given using a machine that gives off high frequency sound waves. These waves deliver a strong beam to a specific part of a cancer to raise the temperature of the target tissue to 80-90 degrees Celsius in two to three seconds. Some cells die when this high intensity ultrasound beam is focused directly onto them.

In most cases, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is a 1-4 hour, one-time procedure performed on an out-patient basis under spinal anesthesia. Unlike radiation, HIFU is non-ionizing; this means that this procedure may also be used as a salvage technique if other prostate cancer treatments fail.

When can High Intensity Focused Ultrasound be used?

intensity focused treatment HIFU is used to treat patients with localized prostate cancer tumours (stage T1-T2) that are not widespread. It is useful to treat all tumour or only a part of it.

This treatment is recommended for patients who are not candidates for a prostatectomy (because of their age, their general state of being or an associated disease) or patients who want an alternative to surgery. This treatment can be used as "salvage" treatment for patients who have local recurrence after external radiotherapy.

Advantages of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound procedure

The HIFU therapy is now widely available as an alternative therapeutic option for prostate cancer and presents the following advantages:

  • non-invasive procedure
  • precise local treatment in one session
  • repeatable if necessary,
  • with a short period of hospitalization
  • around 70% men retain erectile function
  • low complication rate

Disadvantages of HIFU procedure

Results from trials so far show that HIFU may be as successful in treating prostate cancer. But the treatment hasn't been used around long enough to know that the long term results will be as good as surgery or radiotherapy.

Among disadvantages we can list:

  • 30-40% of patients may experience some short term urinary symptoms after the procedure due to the debris causing an obstruction in the urethra.
  • most men will be infertile due to the decreased or absent ejaculatory fluid




NOTE: Issues on this site regarding men's health and their concerns, are provided for information only, and are not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional. Prostate-Report.org does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.





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