HIFU therapy

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

HIFU therapy or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is a treatment technology using high-intensity ultrasound that is focused. HIFU is a treatment in which the energy of ultrasonic vibrations is used to treat deep tissue. This method of therapy is used in cancer diseases. Ultrasonic waves, which the generator generates, affects the tumor and destroys them.

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

[1], [2], [3]

Indications for HIFU therapy

Indications for HIFU therapy are based on the effect of this technology. Focused ultrasound with a high intensity effect is used in 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, bladder.
• The technology is ineffective in cancer lesions of the brain, lungs, pelvis, tumors on the cheeks and skin cancer. But most often, HIFU is used to treat prostate cancer.
• Let's look at the specific features of treating cancers using HIFU therapy.
• Prostate cancer - irradiation is carried out through the anus, this provides maximum access to the prostate gland. The results of HIFU treatment are stunning, only 90% of patients required a second course of therapy.
• Liver cancer - therapeutic treatment is effective in both primary and secondary tumors.
• Kidney Cancer - HIFU therapy helps with small tumors when the cancer is in its early stages. This accelerates the process of rehabilitation and relieves the patient of a painful course of cancer.
• Bladder cancer - HIFU treatment is used as an additional therapy for basic treatment. The method is effective in the treatment of operable tumors.
• Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and intractable oncological lesions. HIFU therapy is used in the early stages or as an additional treatment for surgical intervention.

Preparation for HIFU therapy

Preparation for HIFU therapy begins with the hospitalization of the patient in the hospital. The day before the therapy, it is necessary to prepare the intestines, so the patient is forbidden to eat, and two hours before the treatment it is necessary to stop drinking. Before HIFU therapy, the patient is given several examinations (X-rays, blood tests and others). Treatment is carried out under general anesthesia or epidural. The entire radiation process takes several hours.

According to the statistics of HIFU therapy, to date, there have been no deaths due to received radiation. 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 carried out, so what is the therapeutic effect and destruction of cancer tumors and lesions? Let's consider the treatment with HIFU therapy using prostate cancer as an example. Initially, the patient is anesthetized and then placed on the surgery table and a cystic drainage is installed in the bladder. Under the skin above the pubis, a tube is inserted, from which the urine will leave in the process of rehabilitation. After this, the surgeon places the sensor in the rectum.

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

1. High energy of ultrasound penetrates through healthy tissues and affects the cancerous tumor. This stage is called thermal ablation. Healthy tissues remain intact, that is, they are intact.
2. In the second stage, ultrasound causes vibration, which acts on the source of the lesion. In the negative phase of ultrasound wave, the introduced early solution is converted into gas and microbubbles, which act on the affected tissue.
3. At the last stage, a high-intensity focused ultrasound damages and destroys the vessels that feed the cancerous tumor. Due to this, the supply of oxygen stops and the growth of tumor tissues is disrupted, that is, the cancerous formation is destroyed.

Equipment for HIFU therapy

The equipment for HIFU therapy is modern technologies that can effectively treat cancerous lesions of various locations. To date, there are several devices that are used for HIFU therapy. Modern equipment for therapy - Sonablate R55 and Ablatherm.

Ablatherm is a French-made device that consists of a therapeutic module, an endo-rectal umbrella management system. The second device is Sonablate, manufactured in the USA. Both HIFU devices work with computer programs, which are constantly updated and improved. But, like the first and the second apparatus works with the help of high ultrasonic waves.

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

[4]

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. Violations of blood coagulability, the use of anticoagulants, hemorrhagic diathesis are the main contraindications, which 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, with 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 volume of the prostate gland and with calcifications more than 1 cm, as they block and reflect HIFU radiation.

[5], [6], [7], [8]

Cost of HIFU therapy

The cost of HIFU therapy depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of its development and the individual characteristics of the patient's body. The price of therapeutic treatment is influenced by the country in which the treatment will be treated and the clinic. Let's look at the cost of HIFU treatment in different countries, the cost of therapy is indicated in US dollars.

A country	The cost of HIFU therapy, USD
Japan	From 25000
Israel	From 40,000
South Korea	From 15000
Kazakhstan	From 5000
United Kingdom	From 15000
Ukraine	From 15000

HIFU therapy to remove the tumor of the stomach costs about 25 thousand US dollars, treatment of bowel cancer - about 20 thousand, prostate and cervical cancer - from 15 thousand. Such a high cost of HIFU therapy is due to the uniqueness of the method and its high efficiency.

HIFU therapy is a modern organ-preserving technique for the treatment of cancer, that is, 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 locations.

[9], [10], [11]