High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer

HIFU treatment

HIFU treatment (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) consists in destroying the prostate or the area defined inside the prostate (corresponding to the tumor) by burning it with focused ultrasound.

HIFU treatment is an effective, non-invasive (incisionless) treatment that preserves the patient's quality of life. More information on HIFU treatment.

The prostate

The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system. It is situated in front of the rectum, below the bladder, and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube through which urine flows out of the body. The main function of the chestnut-sized prostate is to secrete part of the seminal fluid that combines with sperm to form semen. A healthy adult prostate weighs around 20 to 25 grams and is approximately 4 cm wide, 3 cm high and 2 cm thick. It can be affected by various diseases including cancer that can be detected by medical exam and blood PSA (prostate-specific antigen).