HIGH – INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TREATMENT FOR LOCAL PROSTATE CANCER
HIFU uses sound waves to warm up small areas of tissue in cases of targeted treatment of the part of prostate but not the whole organ. The US can target a small area of damage of size of a rice grain and preserve important structures around the organ such as the sphincters or erectile nerves. Medium-term success – 5-10 years were good, around 80% of patients did not have disease.
BENEFITS OF HIFU
Focused targeted treatment in the cancer-free zone throughout the prostate preventing any side effects that occurred in the overall treatment due to injury to the sphincters or nerves near the prostate.
HIFU treatment is a day care under short anesthesia that does not involve cuts or insertion of needles into the body. The recovery is fast. Patient is released from hospital about 6 hours after treatment with a catheter for 3-4 days.
Unlike other treatments, HIFU can be repeated after a period of time. About 20% of patients need treatment two to five years after the first treatment. On the other hand, there is no impediment to surgery or radiation therapy if there is a risk of recurrence.
RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS OF HIFU
Most patients have temporary symptoms of urination – burning and frequent urination for several days (1%), urinary retention (1%), erectile dysfunction (5%), leaks (1%), urinary tract infection (5%), urine (1%), rectal fistula (0.2%).
