Contrast-Enhanced Transrectal Ultrasound for Follow-up After Focal HIFU Ablation for Prostate Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Imaging
• Urology

Background:

• The optimal imaging strategy for prostate cancer after focal therapy is still developing.
• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) hemiablation is a focal therapy option for prostate cancer.
• Contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound (CE-TRUS) is an emerging imaging technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the initial experience of using CE-TRUS for monitoring patients post-HIFU hemiablation for prostate cancer.
• To evaluate the utility of CE-TRUS in identifying ablation defects and potential cancer recurrence.

Main Methods:

• Seven patients who underwent HIFU hemiablation for prostate cancer were included.
• CE-TRUS was performed for follow-up imaging.
• Findings were correlated with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and biopsy results.

Main Results:

• CE-TRUS clearly depicted the HIFU ablation defect as a nonenhancing zone in all patients.
• Suspicious foci of recurrent enhancement within the ablation zone were identified in 2 patients.
• CE-TRUS findings demonstrated good correlation with mpMRI and histologic findings from biopsies.

Conclusions:

• CE-TRUS is a valuable tool for visualizing HIFU ablation defects after prostate cancer treatment.
• CE-TRUS can identify areas suspicious for cancer recurrence, facilitating image-guided biopsies.
• The technique shows promise in complementing existing imaging and biopsy protocols for post-treatment surveillance.