HIFU

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is a non-invasive acoustic ablation technique that uses high frequency ultrasound waves to heat and destroy cancer cells in the prostate.

HIFU is one of the treatments for prostate cancer that is completely localised within the prostate and has not spread to other areas of the body.

ACOUSTIC ABLATION

Acoustic ablation uses intersecting, tightly focused ultrasound waves to raise the temperature of the target tissue to more than 80-90 degrees Celsius in two to three seconds, effectively destroying the tissue.

• Significantly less pain
• Less blood loss
• Fewer complications
• Less scarring
• A shorter hospital stay and quicker return to normal daily activities

Ultrasound energy is non-ionizing “clean energy” that does not affect tissue surrounding the target zone, as opposed to radiation therapies.

HIFU treatment in approved countries can be given in one to four hours on an outpatient basis with epidural anaesthesia.

HIFU is being studied around the world to treat all types of cancer and soft tissue diseases.

Researchers in UCH, London have presented a research study to fellow surgeons and oncologists at the British Prostate Group, with 83% of men treated to a PSA nadir of 0.2ng/ml or less. This very low level of PSA is used as a marker by more established techniques such as radiotherapy to predict cancer cure rates at 10 years. The PSA level can be reached after just 3 months with HIFU treatment, giving men early peace of mind that they have been successfully treated.