A Review of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Urology

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Technology
• Oncology

Background:

• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has a century-long conceptual history and 50 years of experimental application.
• It is an accepted treatment for various conditions, known for low morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical and current applications of HIFU in urological surgery.
• To assess the current status and future potential of HIFU for prostate and renal cancers.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of historical and current studies (1927-2020).
• Searches conducted using PubMed and Cochrane databases.
• Inclusion of trial and review articles from medical and ultrasonic literature.

Main Results:

• HIFU is an accepted, repeatable primary or salvage treatment for localized prostate cancer with potentially fewer side effects than other therapies.
• HIFU is not yet standard for renal cancer due to anatomical challenges (perinephric fat, rib cage).
• Early clinical trials show promise for renal cancer treatment, with ongoing technological improvements.

Conclusions:

• HIFU is a valuable, localized treatment for selected prostate cancer cases.
• Technological advancements (image fusion, phased arrays, motion compensation) are expected to enable effective renal tumor treatment.
• Future HIFU generations will likely further minimize side effects in prostate cancer treatment.