HIFU therapy

HIFU therapy is a new generation high-intensity technology used in the treatment of oncological diseases. Let's look at the main indications for the use of HIFU therapy, contraindications, equipment used in the treatment process, as well as the cost of such a procedure.

HIFU therapy or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is a treatment technology using high-intensity ultrasound, which is focused. HIFU is a treatment that uses the energy of ultrasound vibrations to treat deep-lying tissues. This method of therapy is used in oncological diseases. Ultrasound waves produced by a generator affect tumors and destroy them.

HIFU therapy is a non-invasive method, but despite this, it is related to surgical methods of treating oncological diseases. HIFU is an alternative to surgical intervention. The technology is implemented using the Sonablate and Ablatherm systems.

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Indications for HIFU therapy

Indications for HIFU therapy are based on the action of this technology. High-intensity focused ultrasound is used for isolated and widespread cancer tumors. The technology is effective for treating cancer at all stages.

• HIFU therapy is used for kidney and liver cancer (primary and secondary), pancreas, and bladder.
• The technology is ineffective for cancers of the brain, lungs, pelvis, cheek tumors, and skin cancer. But most often, HIFU is used to treat prostate cancer.
• Let's look at the features of cancer treatment using HIFU therapy.
• Prostate cancer – radiation is administered through the anus, which provides maximum access to the prostate gland. The results of HIFU treatment are amazing, with only 90% of patients requiring a repeat course of therapy.
• Liver cancer - therapeutic treatment is effective for both primary and secondary tumors.
• Kidney cancer – HIFU therapy helps with small tumors when cancer is in the early stages. This speeds up the rehabilitation process and relieves the patient from the painful course of cancer.
• Bladder cancer – HIFU treatment is used as an additional therapy in the main treatment. The method is effective in the treatment of operable tumors.
• Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat cancers. HIFU therapy is used in the early stages or as an additional treatment for surgery.

Preparation for HIFU therapy

Preparation for HIFU therapy begins with hospitalization of the patient. The day before the therapy, it is necessary to prepare the intestines, so the patient is prohibited from eating, and two hours before the treatment, it is necessary to stop drinking. Before HIFU therapy, the patient undergoes several examinations (X-ray, blood test, etc.). The treatment is carried out under general or epidural anesthesia. The entire radiation process takes several hours.

According to HIFU therapy statistics, there have been no fatal cases due to radiation exposure to date. The therapy does not cause pathological complications during the rehabilitation period and is highly effective in the treatment of oncological lesions.

How is HIFU therapy performed?

How is HIFU therapy performed, what is the therapeutic effect and destruction of cancerous tumors and lesions? Let's look at the treatment using HIFU therapy using prostate cancer as an example. Initially, the patient is anesthetized, then placed on the operating table and a cystotomy drain is installed in the bladder. A tube is inserted under the skin above the pubis, from which urine will be drained during the rehabilitation process. After this, the surgeon installs a sensor in the rectum.

HIFU therapy is based on the effect of ultrasound waves on the prostate tissue, but the tissue remains undamaged. The mechanism of action of HIFU therapy:

1. High energy ultrasound penetrates healthy tissue and affects the cancerous tumor. This stage is called thermal ablation. Healthy tissue remains undamaged, that is, it is intact.
2. In the second stage, ultrasound causes vibration, which affects the source of the lesion. At the negative phase of the ultrasound wave, the previously introduced solution turns into gas and microbubbles, which affect the affected tissues.
3. In the final stage, high-intensity focused ultrasound damages and destroys the vessels that feed the cancerous tumor. This stops the oxygen supply and disrupts the growth of tumor tissue, meaning the cancerous growth is destroyed.

Equipment for HIFU therapy

HIFU therapy equipment is a modern technology that allows for effective treatment of cancer lesions of various localizations. Today, there are several devices that are used for HIFU therapy. Modern equipment for therapy is the Sonablate R55 and Ablatherm devices.

Ablatherm is a French-made device that consists of a treatment module, an endorectal umbrella control system. The second device is Sonablate, made in the USA. Both HIFU devices operate using computer programs that are constantly updated and improved. But, like the first, the second device operates using high ultrasound waves.

When using HIFU therapy, the JC ultrasound system can be used. The principle of operation of this equipment is that the ultrasound wave penetrates healthy tissue and destroys the affected tissue. The peculiarity of the above-described equipment is that it allows you to refuse surgical intervention, which means it takes the process of treating oncological lesions to a new level.

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Contraindications to HIFU therapy

Contraindications to HIFU therapy depend on the characteristics of the patient's body, the course of a certain type of oncology and the degree of organ damage. Blood clotting disorders, taking anticoagulants, hemorrhagic diathesis are the main contraindications that are eliminated before the procedure.

Let's look at the main contraindications to HIFU therapy for prostate cancer. HIFU treatment is contraindicated in acute prostatitis, infectious and inflammatory lesions of the genitourinary system, metastases in the lymph nodes and bones, as well as in the absence of a rectum due to previous surgery. Therapy is not performed with a large prostate gland and with calcifications larger than 1 cm, as they block and reflect HIFU radiation.

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Cost of HIFU therapy

The cost of HIFU therapy depends on the location of the cancerous tumor, its stage of development and individual characteristics of the patient's body. The price of therapeutic treatment is affected by the country in which the treatment will take place and the clinic. Let's consider the cost of HIFU treatment in different countries, the cost of therapy is indicated in US dollars.

Country	Cost of HIFU therapy, USD
Japan	From 25000
Israel	From 40000
South Korea	From 15000
Kazakhstan	From 5000
United Kingdom	From 15000
Ukraine	From 15000

HIFU therapy for removing a stomach tumor costs about 25 thousand US dollars, treatment of intestinal cancer - about 20 thousand, prostate and cervical tumors - from 15 thousand. Such a high cost of HIFU therapy is explained by the uniqueness of the method and its high efficiency.

HIFU therapy is a modern organ-preserving method of treating cancer, i.e. oncology. Despite the high cost, the therapy is very effective, has a minimum of contraindications and a short rehabilitation period. HIFU therapy is effective in the treatment of both malignant and benign tumors of various localizations.

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