Which patients can be treated with HIFU?

Patients who have not yet received any treatment for cancer

HIFU treatment for localized prostate cancer is especially relevant for total or radical treatment of the entire prostate gland for patients with:

  • A localized stage T1 or T2 cancer
  • A Gleason score of 7 or less
  • A desire to maintain maximum quality of life after treatment

Higher stage cancer (T3) or more agressive cancers (Gleason score higher than 7) are possible but this option has to be discussed with an urologist expert.

Patients seeking an innovative approach: focal HIFU treatment

Focal One® is the ideal tool to treat just the diseased area inside the prostate in order to preserve maximum quality of life (limited impact on neighboring organs reduces side effects). It precisely targets the areas to treat thanks to an imaging system using MRI and the biopsies. Once the area focused, an endorectal probe delivers high intensity ultrasounds. These ultrasounds increase the temperature at a specific point until destruction of cancer cells.

This therapeutic approach aims to achieve a control of the disease by closely monitoring the patient and repeating the treatment if necessary. This innovative therapeutic option is currently under investigation and the first results show a perfect preservation of sexual and urinary functions.

Focal therapy is an intermediate response between active surveillance and radical treatments. Cancer is effectively treated but minimally invasively, preserving quality of life of the patients and reducing the psychological stress that active surveillance can represent to the patient.

Even if the probability is low, side effects may occur with HIFU treatment. Urinary and sexual disorders are some examples of possible side effects. If you want more information about side effects and its probabilities, we invite you to visit this page of our website or this page [].

Focal one® is a medical device latest generation which succeeds to Ablatherm® HIFU device.

(Commercialized since 2000, Ablatherm® HIFU has a long experience in treating prostate cancer with high intensity focused ultrasounds).

Patients who have already received HIFU treatment

All patients who have received a HIFU treatment for localized prostate cancer can receive repeat treatments in case the original treatment’s outcome justifies it. Repeated treatment option is not available with conventional options as radiotherapy or surgical treatments.

Patients who have already received radiotherapy

When a patient has already received radiotherapy treatment for localized prostate cancer but the cancer has recurred, range of therapeutical options is limited but HIFU treatment represents an excellent “second chance”.
HIFU treatment eligibility criteria:

  • Localized (i.e. within the gland) recurrence of the cancer has been detected
  • The staging assessment is clear, i.e. the cancer is still totally contained within the prostate

HIFU prostate cancer treatment contraindications:

  • Anal or rectal surgery that prevents insertion of the probe
  • Artificial sphincter, penile implants and intra-prostatic implants
  • Allergy to latex.