Transrectal high‐intensity ultrasound therapy of localized prostate cancer Free

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. The Ablatherm project has been developed in order to achieve a minimally invasive treatment of localized prostate cancer using transrectal high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The method uses a sharply focused wideband transducer operating in the frequency range 2.25–3.0 MHz to induce a localized thermal necrosis with a shot of 4.5‐s exposure. This therapy transducer focused at 40 mm is coupled to a retractable 7.5‐MHz biplane imaging transducer. A computer‐controlled positioning device moves the probe in the rectum to ablate the volume defined with the image by repeating the shots every 5 s. For patient safety, the system includes a power monitoring circuitry combined with a real time A‐mode ultrasound detection of the rectal wall. Since 1993, 44 patients have been treated in Lyon: A complete response was obtained in 26 and only 18 numerous advantages: It is minimally invasive requiring only a short hospital stay; it is repeatable unlike radiotherapy and additional treatment centered on insufficiently treated area can be performed. [Work supported by Technomed and Rhone Alpes Futur.]