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HIFU - High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment of Prostate Tumour / Tumor
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| | HIFU - HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TREATMENT FOR PROSTATE CARCINOMA |
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| | The Method |
| | Through a probe entering into the rectum a focused and highly concentrated field of ultrasound waves is applied to the prostate in bladder exit area. The focusing of the ultrasound field generates local temperatures up to 95 C that will precisely target the diseased tissue (coagulation through heat). |
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| | The technology |
| | German Medicine is able to arrange treatment with various generations of HIFU machines, amongst them the lastest model Sonablate 500, developed by Focus Surgery, USA with the following features: |
| |  | 3D representation of prostate |
| | | simultaneous HIFU therapy |
| | | variable focus lengths for individual adaptation to target area |
| | | visual image guidance through integrated diagnostic ultrasound feature |
| | | RDMTM rectal wall distance assessment |
| | | HIFU Rim (Reflectivity Index Measurement) |
| | | Scalable digital platform |
| | | Active Cooling "Sonachill" |
| | | multifunctional arm for fixation of probe |
| | | data processing through page printer SVHS and CD-Rom
Space-Savings-Streamline footprint |
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| | Therapy regime |
| | Light slumber anaesthesia combined with local anaesthesia of prostate area (usually peridurally). Patient is lying on his back with slightly bent knees, whilst the probe approaches the prostate through the rectum usually without any challenges. Now the target area is chosen and irradiated by computer-guide focused sound the surgoen simultaneously controlling progress of treatment through the ultrasound imaging feature. The procedure takes 50-60 minutes depending on size and weight of area treated. A balloon cathetre introduced into the urethra can assist in exact targeting. |
| | After the treatment patients rest for about 30 minutes, often take a small meal and leave the clinic about an hour later. After a short post-op follow-up on the next day patients are discharged. |
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| | Experience and Evidence |
| | By now more than patients worldwide have been treated with HIFU. The results are convincing compared to TUR with regard to risks and side effects (see: Noninvasive Surgery of Prostate Tissue by High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: An Updated Report, N.T. Sanghvi, European Journal of Ultrasound 9, 1999) |
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| | Risks and Side Effects |
| | After the operation a cathetre has to be worn for a few days to prevent possible swelling fo prostate leading to blcoking of urine. After removal of cathetre a state of irritation can ensure for a few days usually abating quickly under various simple therapeutical measures. |
| | Retrogade ejaculation and distrubances of potence are extremely rare (less than 1%) compared to TUR surgery. Other known TUR complications will not appear at all with this method. Summing up the advantages: |
| | | Improvement of maximum flow of urine |
| | | Reduction of remaining urine by more than 50% |
| | | can be performed as day case |
| | | treatment avoids direct touching |
| | | no general anaesthesia required |
| | | short treatment period |
| | | only minor complaints after treatment |
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