HIFU

HIFU or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound is a therapeutic radiology treatment, often used in the treatment of cancers. This non-invasive treatment method uses ultrasound waves to heat and destroy diseased tissue.

Overview

HIFU is a medical procedure that uses high-intensity focused ultrasound to treat a small portion of affected tissue. The ultrasound waves are focused on the targeted tissue, and due to the significant energy deposition at the focus, temperature within the tissue rises to more than 65 °C, destroying the diseased tissue by coagulative necrosis. Each sonication (individual ultrasound energy delivery) treats a precisely defined portion of the targeted tissue.

Applications

HIFU has been found to have applications in the treatment of a range of tumors of various types of cancers, including prostate, breast, liver, pancreatic, kidney, and bladder.

Advantages

HIFU treatment has several advantages over traditional methods of cancer treatment. It is non-invasive and non-ionizing, reducing the potential for damage to healthy tissue and organs near the treatment area. Additionally, it can be repeated if necessary and can be used as a complement to other treatment methods.

Limitations

While HIFU has many advantages, there are also some limitations. For instance, it is not suitable for all patients and all types of cancer. It is also not typically used for tumors that are close to sensitive structures like the bowel or nerves.

See Also

• Radiology
• Ultrasound
• Cancer Treatment

HIFU Resources
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