HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) uses high-energy sound waves to destroy prostate cancer cells without radiation. Intersecting, precision-focused ultrasound waves raise the temperature within the targeted cancerous tissue greater than 80-90 degrees Celsius in seconds, effectively destroying the tissue.
Unlike radiation therapies, ultrasound energy is non-ionizing "clean energy" that doesn't damage tissue surrounding the target zone. The objective zone is approximately 1/8 inch in diameter, which permits greater precision than radiation therapies. Unlike radiation therapy, HIFU treatments can even be repeated in the event that the disease recurs locally. HIFU may also be used like a salvage therapy following failed radiation therapy.
The HIFU procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning a hospital stay is often not necessary. The procedure is performed under spinal or general anesthesia and typically takes approximately 2-3 hours. During the procedure, a tiny probe is inserted into the rectum which generates and emits the ultrasound energy that is precisely targeted to the prostate. Physician will monitor the prostate all the way through the procedure using real-time ultrasound images to maximize prostate cancer destruction and minimize injury to other vital tissues.
HIFU treatment for prostate cancer has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, up to now, over 6,000 men have undergone HIFU at over 100 International HIFU Centers throughout the globe. Every year, over 40,000 men with prostate cancer who are treated with radiation have their cancers return. The majority will decide on hormonal therapy in an attempt to control their cancer. Hormonal therapy prohibits the production of testosterone in order to decelerate the cancer's growth. However, lowering of testosterone might cause unwanted effects just like osteoporosis, increased risk of heart attack, stroke, loss of libido, depression, loss of mental acuity and impotence. HIFU is radiation free and destroys residual cancer within the prostate using clean ultrasound energy. In a small U.S. safety trial, 91% of the participants had a negative biopsy 6 months after the HIFU treatment.
The typical short-term unintended effects associated with radiation therapy include fatigue, urinary and rectal symptoms. Urinary symptoms might include frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, nocturia and diminished urinary stream. Rectal symptoms may include diarrhea, fecal incontinence, rectal bleeding and rectal urgency. Generally, the urinary and rectal symptoms are transient. In addition, erectile dysfunction often develops months or years after radiation therapy. Long-term complications are rare and include rectal or urinary fistulas, urinary strictures, hemorrhagic cystitis and proctitis (chronic bleeding from the rectum and bladder) and dysfunctional bladder or rectum as a result of scarring. There is increasing evidence that men undergoing pelvic radiation are at significantly greater risk of developing bladder and colon cancer.
Salvage radical prostatectomy is also a great challenging technical procedure because of the prostate is embedded in a fibrous scar produced by radiation. Therefore, minimally invasive ablative therapies are gaining increasing acceptance for the treatment of recurrent prostate cancer after failed radiation therapy that is indeed HIFU. Many patients who have had radiation therapy, brachytherapy or external beam radiation experience an increase in PSA have discovered that the cancer is back. These patients may be candidates for HIFU also, so long as the cancer has not spread to the bone or other organs. Moreover, patients that have a local recurrence after receiving an intensive prostatectomy may also qualify for HIFU.
Richard R. Lotenfoe, MD, is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Board Certified Urological Surgeon in Orlando, Florida. He specializes in the treatment of prostate cancer using the HIFU procedure.The HIFU Treatment uses ultrasound to destroy prostate cancer cells. Dr. Richard R. Lotenfoe is the Founder of Orlando-based Urology Health Solutions Inc., and CEO of Innovative Technologies, LLC.Since establishing his Orlando practice in 1999, he has been firmly committed to embracing minimally invasive technology and perfecting the latest urological surgical techniques. Since 1994 he has been one of a select group of Urological Surgeons in the United States skilled enough to offer the latest surgical procedures to his patients, which improve surgical outcomes, while minimizing pain and discomfort associated with traditional surgeries.
http://hifu.md/
Central FL Prostate Care Center
410 Celebration Place
Celebration, FL 34747
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