HIFU-Therapy

HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound)

HIFU is a treatment method for prostate cancer, which currently is being discussed in the media as the new hope for the cure of the most frequently occurring cancers in males. However, to date, clinical trials for this treatment are still limited and only extend out to 5 years. Worldwide only a few patients with prostate cancer were treated with the HiFU procedure. There are no sufficient findings regarding possible side effects, which could occur years after the treatment. Data regarding long-term cure rates are not available at this time, and can at the earliest be expected in about five years. Only at that time will a reliable prognosis about long-term cure and long-term side effects be possible.

Disadvantages of the HiFU therapy:

This is a highly precise medical procedure using high-intensity focused ultrasound to heat and destroy pathogenic tissue rapidly. When high frequency sound waves are concentrated on body tissues, those tissues heat up and die. In contrast to benign prostate hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate), prostate cancer does generally develop in the area of the so-called prostate capsule, and thus in immediate vicinity of the rectum. Consequently, the HIFU therapy bears the risk of rectal injury and formation of fistula.   Because of the high heat intensity to the organ, in many cases the potency of the male is also affected. Partial treatments for maintaining potency are possible. However, since the prostate tissue cannot be completely removed, an inclusive removal of the tumor is not warranted.
Due to the limited focal length of HIFU (energy does not sufficiently reach the inner zones of the organs), gland volume larger than 40 cc cannot be gland volume cannot be treated at all. If the gland is larger, then surgical downsizing (TURP) is required. Consequently, this extensive procedure can no longer be considered a “minimal evasive procedure”.