Monday, January 14, 2013

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Candidate Requirements

By Tai Ku-Te


As High Intensity Focused Ultrasound specialists Urology Health Solutions, Inc. know, cancer is one of the most prolific diseases of this era, with many sufferers undergoing harsh chemical radiation and chemotherapy to try and eradicate the illness. But in recent years doctors have started using HIFU as a very successful cancer treatment. This treatment is not suitable for everyone, and it is important to find out who is not a good fit for a high intensity focused ultrasound.

Basically a HF (high frequency) machine is positioned on top of the epidermis; a concentrated beam is focused directly on the tumor inside the body. This non invasive method is primarily reserved for use on metastatic disease or solid tumor masses. This concentrated beam creates a huge increase in temperature of the cancerous cells and this reaction kills off bad tissue and surrounding healthy tissue is not affected.

The biggest advantage of this method of treatment is that due to it only using sound waves; it has very few side effects unlike previously used treatments. Costs related to a HIFU doctor and treatment are greatly reduced as patients do not undergo any surgery and only need to have a local anesthetic and do not have to undergo long hospital stays. Furthermore most will only require one session in order to eliminate deadly cancer cells.

There are still a small amount of sufferers that will not be able to be treated. HIFU is recorded as not being suited as a treatment for brain tumors, in particular where evidence of some kind of cerebrovascular disorder is present, if Parkinson disease, or previous brain surgical procedure or any MRI restricting metallic implants are noted. Metallic implants affect the correct application of MRI scanning which is of vital importance in the HIFU procedure.

It is furthermore not recommended on people that have lung, skin and pelvic area cancer as well as head and neck cancer. Cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or are widespread throughout the body also will not respond to this cure. As it is more successfully used to treat part of a large tumor or a single malignant growth.

HF unfortunately can not pass directly through hard bones or similarly cannot move through air or gas bubble within the body, therefore lung cancer suffers will not benefit from the use of this machine, if the tumor is inside the bone cavity and also where the tumor is surrounded or obscured by major blood vessels. As the beam actually causes lesions it needs an unhindered path directly to the site of the tumor.

Generally women that are pregnant or breast feeding, or where brain metastases is evident, concurrent anti arrhythmia, severe underlying medical conditions or specific medications are reasons for immediate exclusions for high frequency exposure. Not suited for children or individuals that cannot lie completely still for periods of just over 2 hours. Of course obesity would also be reasons for HIFU treatments not to be done.

Additionally, anything that could cause the sonar equipment to not be able to be used will have to be excluded. Sadly there is a full list of any one who is not a good fit for hifu. But for men suffering from prostate cancer, women with breast cancer and anyone with liver cancer, this treatment is available and can be provided by a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound expert from Urology Health Solutions, Inc.




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