High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), also known as focused ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive image-guided therapy, which has been primarily employed in the clinical realm for non-invasive thermal ablation of benign and malignant neoplasms. Real time imaging guidance, treatment monitoring and therapy control is achieved with ultrasound (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance. Clinical experience in the GU tract has been described in the treatment of leiomyomata, adenomyosis, prostate and renal tumors, although, to date, widespread adoption of HIFU thermoablation remains limited. Ongoing technical challenges include the feasibility of treating large tumors within a finite treatment time, treating targets prone to motion or those for which the acoustic window is restricted by intervening anatomy.
A range of provocative bio-effects of therapeutic ultrasound beyond thermoablation also have the potential to be leveraged in the care of the oncology patient. Hyperthermic effects can potentiate the release of thermosensitive drugs, enhance the permeability and retention of chemotherapeutic agents, and potentially enable gene delivery within tumors. Mechanical effects of HIFU, including stable and inertial cavitation play a role in heat sensitive drug and gene delivery and have the potential to be employed as adjuvant effects for more efficient ablation of large tumors.
Ongoing and promising oncologic research is directed toward optimization of HIFU’s thermoablative capabilities and greater elucidation of its non-thermal effects. This keynote presentation will describe the principles governing oncologic applications of HIFU and present current state-of-the art and future GU interventional applications of this innovative image-guided therapy.
Venkatesan, A,
Genitourinary Keynote Speaker: Oncologic Applications of HIFU in 2014—Current State-of-the Art and Future Directions. Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14044455.html
