| onym HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused | | | | option? HIFU offers less risk then other treatments |
| Ultrasound, which is a highly precise medical | | | | with similar results. Because the treatment destroys |
| procedure that targets tissue deep inside the body | | | | the entire prostate gland, it is highly successful for |
| and destroys it using the power of ultrasound waves. | | | | localized prostate cancer cases. Because of the way |
| This therapy, which is used to treat a variety of | | | | the treatment works, tissues surrounding the |
| conditions including kidney cancer, uterine fibroids, | | | | prostate gland are not damaged, which lowers the |
| breast cancer, and several other conditions, has | | | | risk of permanent conditions like impotence and |
| recently caught the attention of the urology field as | | | | incontinence, although these are still a risk as they |
| a highly effective, low-risk prostate cancer treatment | | | | are with any prostate cancer treatment option. Also, |
| option. | | | | HIFU is not a surgical procedure, which means no |
| HIFU Treatment | | | | blood is lost during treatment, and the treatment has |
| HIFU treatment varies depending on the condition | | | | less risk of infection over other prostate cancer |
| being treated. When used to treat prostate cancer, | | | | treatment options. Finally, HIFU is non-ionizing, which |
| HIFU begins with the administration of anesthetic, | | | | means it can be used as a salvage treatment and |
| either spinal or general. Once the antistatic is in | | | | also can be repeated if necessary. Few other |
| effect, the physician uses a transrectal probe to | | | | effective prostate cancer treatments have the same |
| gather ultrasound images of the prostate gland. | | | | number of benefits. |
| Through the probe, the physician will then deliver | | | | IMPORTANT INFORMATION |
| ultrasound waves directly into the prostate gland. | | | | The Sonablate® 500 is not approved for use in |
| Ultrasound waves are not damaging to tissue, which | | | | the U.S. The Sonablate® 500 remains |
| is why they are safely used to gather images of the | | | | investigational in the U.S. and is being studied for the |
| body during HIFU and other medical procedures. HIFU | | | | treatment of prostate cancer in clinical trials in the |
| treatment uses the same scientific principle used | | | | U.S. FDA has made no decision as to the safety or |
| when burning paper with a magnifying glass. In this | | | | efficacy of the Sonablate®500 for the |
| example, each individual ray of sunlight is not | | | | treatment of prostate cancer. |
| damaging to the paper, but the magnifying glass lens | | | | The information provided on this website is for |
| bends the light so that the rays come together at a | | | | general information purposes only and is not intended |
| specific point on the other side of the lens. This point, | | | | to replace sound professional medical advice and care. |
| called the focal point, contains a tremendous amount | | | | All treatment options and potential outcomes and |
| of energy, which is enough to burn the leaf or paper. | | | | complications should be discussed with a qualified |
| Similarly, in HIFU treatment, the individual ultrasound | | | | healthcare provider. |
| waves are harmless. They pass easily through the | | | | Dr. Michael Wolff received his undergraduate degree |
| tissue surrounding the gland without damaging it. | | | | in Biology and Chemistry from Indiana University in |
| However, the transducer points the rays at a specific | | | | Bloomington, Indiana. For more information about |
| point inside the gland - the focal point - and at that | | | | HIFU ,please visit .He attended medical School at The |
| point the tissue is exposed to high levels of energy. | | | | Indiana University School of Medicine, receiving his |
| This energy quickly heats and destroys the tissue. | | | | M.D. in 1983. |
| The treatment is typically performed on an | | | | Report this article |
| outpatient basis and lasts between one and four | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| hours, depending on the size of the prostate gland | | | | Source: |
| and the treatment delivery device used. The | | | | Republish this article |
| procedure can be done under spinal anesthesia. During | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| the treatment, the doctor will use the ultrasound | | | | >> Who will print my storyHere is an article |
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| So why choose HIFU as a prostate cancer treatment | | | | |