Using Ultrasound to Treat Prostate Cancer Ultrasound is a minimally invasive and precise procedure that involves aiming ultrasound waves directly at the prostate tumor, heating the tumor cells to a very high temperature in order to ablate (destroy) them Ultrasound is a treatment option for some people diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is a minimally invasive and precise procedure that involves aiming ultrasound waves directly at the prostate tumor, heating the tumor cells to a very high temperature in order to ablate (destroy) them.Ultrasound is most often a treatment option for patients whose prostate cancer is considered low- to intermediate-risk and is confined to the prostate. Two forms of ultrasound are described below.Ultrasound is a type of focal therapy. These therapies target a specific region of the prostate, and their long-term success has not been proven in larger clinical trials. Ultrasound, and other focal therapies, are not yet considered standard of care and should be considered as investigational treatments. These therapies may be considered within a supervised clinical trial. If you're considering ultrasound as a therapy, check with your insurance carrier to see if they cover the cost of these procedures. Ultrasound treatments for prostate cancer Learn about High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and the TULSA Procedure below. Expand All High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) High intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU, obtained FDA approval in the United States in 2015 for the ablation of prostate tissue. In HIFU, the normally harmless ultrasound waves are produced at a higher intensity and in a highly focused form. How does HIFU work? HIFU works by destroying tissue with rapid heat pulses that focus on the cancer that has not yet spread to other parts of the body. The procedure involves using a transrectal ultrasound probe to aim sound waves on the prostate tumor. The cancer cells are then heated to a very high temperature so they will die. The entire procedure takes about two hours and the patient needs to have a urinary catheter in place for about two weeks following the procedure. Where can I learn more about HIFU? Studies on this treatment’s effectiveness are mixed. Preliminary research shows survival rates are 90% at five years and 83% at eight years. Much of the published literature has shown a relatively high recurrence rate with HIFU. To search for a clinical trial using HIFU, visit the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials section or the clinical trials database at www.clinicaltrials.gov. What is the TULSA procedure? The word TULSA stands for Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation. It is a minimally invasive procedure that uses directional ultrasound to produce very high temperatures to ablate (destroy or kill) targeted prostate tissue. The procedure is performed in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) suite and uses the TULSA-PRO® system to ablate prostate tissue. The procedure combines real-time MRI with robotically-driven directional thermal ultrasound to deliver predictable, doctor-prescribed ablation of whole-gland or partial prostate tissue. How does TULSA work? A device is inserted into the urethra, which delivers the ultrasound energy towards the prostate. This transurethral device also cools the urethra, protecting it from the thermal ultrasound energy. Likewise, a cooling device is inserted into the rectum, which protects the rectal tissue, helping to preserve the patient’s natural functions.The TULSA Procedure is performed in a single session under general anesthesia, which takes between 2-4 hours.Whether a patient qualifies for the TULSA procedure will be determined by the treating physician. In clinical trials, ideal candidates consisted of patients with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. Where can I learn more about the TULSA procedure? To learn more about the TULSA Procedure, click here to visit the TULSA Procedure patient website. Side effects of ultrasound therapy Common side effects of ultrasound therapy are similar to that of radiation and surgery: urinary or sexual problems such as pain in urination, erectile dysfunction, and an urgent need to urinate.
Ultrasound is a treatment option for some people diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is a minimally invasive and precise procedure that involves aiming ultrasound waves directly at the prostate tumor, heating the tumor cells to a very high temperature in order to ablate (destroy) them.Ultrasound is most often a treatment option for patients whose prostate cancer is considered low- to intermediate-risk and is confined to the prostate. Two forms of ultrasound are described below.Ultrasound is a type of focal therapy. These therapies target a specific region of the prostate, and their long-term success has not been proven in larger clinical trials. Ultrasound, and other focal therapies, are not yet considered standard of care and should be considered as investigational treatments. These therapies may be considered within a supervised clinical trial. If you're considering ultrasound as a therapy, check with your insurance carrier to see if they cover the cost of these procedures.
Ultrasound treatments for prostate cancer Learn about High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and the TULSA Procedure below. Expand All High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) High intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU, obtained FDA approval in the United States in 2015 for the ablation of prostate tissue. In HIFU, the normally harmless ultrasound waves are produced at a higher intensity and in a highly focused form. How does HIFU work? HIFU works by destroying tissue with rapid heat pulses that focus on the cancer that has not yet spread to other parts of the body. The procedure involves using a transrectal ultrasound probe to aim sound waves on the prostate tumor. The cancer cells are then heated to a very high temperature so they will die. The entire procedure takes about two hours and the patient needs to have a urinary catheter in place for about two weeks following the procedure. Where can I learn more about HIFU? Studies on this treatment’s effectiveness are mixed. Preliminary research shows survival rates are 90% at five years and 83% at eight years. Much of the published literature has shown a relatively high recurrence rate with HIFU. To search for a clinical trial using HIFU, visit the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials section or the clinical trials database at www.clinicaltrials.gov. What is the TULSA procedure? The word TULSA stands for Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation. It is a minimally invasive procedure that uses directional ultrasound to produce very high temperatures to ablate (destroy or kill) targeted prostate tissue. The procedure is performed in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) suite and uses the TULSA-PRO® system to ablate prostate tissue. The procedure combines real-time MRI with robotically-driven directional thermal ultrasound to deliver predictable, doctor-prescribed ablation of whole-gland or partial prostate tissue. How does TULSA work? A device is inserted into the urethra, which delivers the ultrasound energy towards the prostate. This transurethral device also cools the urethra, protecting it from the thermal ultrasound energy. Likewise, a cooling device is inserted into the rectum, which protects the rectal tissue, helping to preserve the patient’s natural functions.The TULSA Procedure is performed in a single session under general anesthesia, which takes between 2-4 hours.Whether a patient qualifies for the TULSA procedure will be determined by the treating physician. In clinical trials, ideal candidates consisted of patients with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. Where can I learn more about the TULSA procedure? To learn more about the TULSA Procedure, click here to visit the TULSA Procedure patient website. Side effects of ultrasound therapy Common side effects of ultrasound therapy are similar to that of radiation and surgery: urinary or sexual problems such as pain in urination, erectile dysfunction, and an urgent need to urinate.
