HIFU or HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND

HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) (sometimes FUS or HIFUS) is a highly precise medical procedure using high-intensity focused ultrasound to heat and destroy pathogenic tissue rapidly.

This is typically under computerized MRI guidance, when it is sometimes called Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound, often shortened to MRgFUS. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to identify tumors or fibroids in the body, before they are destroyed by the ultrasound. MRgFUS is currently used in the United States, Canada, Israel, Europe, and Asia to treat uterine fibroids. Current clinical trials are underway, examining the possible use of the technique in the treatment of cancers of the brain, breast, liver, bone, and prostate.

METHOD

In HIFU therapy, ultrasound beams are focused on diseased tissue, and due to the significant energy deposition at the focus, temperature within the tissue rises to 65° to 85°C, destroying the diseased tissue by coagulation necrosis. Each sonication of the beams treats a precisely defined portion of the targeted tissue. The entire therapeutic target is treated by moving the applicator on its robotic arm in order to juxtapose multiple shots, according to a protocol designed by the physician. This technology can achieve precise ablation of diseased tissue, therefore being called HIFU surgery. Because it destroys the diseased tissue non-invasively, it is also known as "Non-invasive HIFU surgery". Anesthesia is not required. The treatment can be combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

USES

•  Treatment of uterine fibroids
•  Treatment of cancer to destroy solid tumors of the bone, brain, breast, liver, pancreas, rectum, kidney, testes, and prostate
•  Delivering drugs to brain
•  Treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF)

COST OF HIFU SURGERY

Login or register to Healhtbase to request a FREE quote for HIFU surgery or any other medical or surgical procedure.

Healthbase is a medical tourism expert offering over 200 medical and dental procedures and connecting patients to leading healthcare facilities worldwide for low-cost high-quality medical care. Healthbase also offers affordable medical tourism plans for self-insured businesses looking for affordable healthcare benefits for employees.