MedWorm: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy

Acute Toxicity Rates in Patients Receiving Salvage Radical Prostate Irradiation Following Primary High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for Localised Prostate Cancer

Clinical Oncology — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:13:41 +0100

We present a case series reporting acute radiotherapy toxicity in patients treated with primary HIFU. (Source: Clinical Oncology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Effect of ethanol injection on cavitation and heating of tissues exposed to high-intensity focused ultrasound.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:37:38 +0100

This study opens up the possibility of improved tumor ablation therapy via a combination of percutaneous ethanol injection and high-intensity focused ultrasound. PMID: 22290554 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology)

A Clinical Trial of Ultrasound Treatment for TRAP Sequence

Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We present a case of TRAP sequence for which high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) was applied as a totally non‐invasive fetal therapy. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology)

A Clinical Trial of Ultrasound Treatment for TRAP Sequence.

The Ultrasound Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We present a case of TRAP sequence for which high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) was applied as a totally non-invasive fetal therapy. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID: 22302667 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Ultrasound Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Is HIFU Ever a 'Reasonable' Option in Prostate Cancer?Is HIFU Ever a 'Reasonable' Option in Prostate Cancer?

Medscape Today Headlines — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:42:28 +0100

Disappointing study results raise questions about the efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in localized, recurring prostate cancer, says Dr. Gerald Chodak. Medscape Urology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

High-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) treatment in uraemic secondary hyperparathyroidism

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. HIFU treatment may be of help in controlling SHP in selected patients with CKD. Further experience is clearly needed. (Source: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Seven years of experience with high‐intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer: Advantages and limitations

The Prostate — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:59:43 +0100

CONCLUSIONSHIFU treatment does not provide effective oncologic outcomes even in low risk patients with prostate cancer as well as in the intermediate or high risk groups. Therefore, patients selected to undergo HIFU treatment for prostate cancer must be very carefully chosen. On the other hand, HIFU treatment for prostate cancer had a very low rate of complications. Prostate © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: The Prostate)

Prostatic cancer surveillance following whole-gland high-intensity focused ultrasound: comparison of MRI and prostate-specific antigen for detection of residual or recurrent disease.

The British Journal of Radiology — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: DCE-MRI performed following whole-gland HIFU has similar sensitivity and specificity and ROC performance to serial PSA measurements for detection of residual or recurrent disease. PMID: 22253342 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The British Journal of Radiology)

ARFI‐prepared MRgHIFU in liver: Simultaneous mapping of ARFI‐displacement and temperature elevation, using a fast GRE‐EPI sequence

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMR acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) is an elegant adjunct to MR‐guided high intensity focused ultrasound for treatment planning and optimization, permitting in situ assessment of the focusing and targeting quality. The thermal effect of high intensity focused ultrasound pulses associated with ARFI measurements is recommended to be monitored on line, in particular when the beam crosses highly absorbent structures or interfaces (e.g., bones or air‐filled cavities). A dedicated MR sequence is proposed here, derived from a segmented gradient echo‐echo planar imaging kernel by adding a bipolar motion encoding gradient with interleaved alternating polarities. Temporal resolution was reduced to 2.1 s, with in‐plane spatial resolution of 1 mm. MR‐ARFI measurements were exe...

ARFI-prepared MRgHIFU in liver: Simultaneous mapping of ARFI-displacement and temperature elevation, using a fast GRE-EPI sequence.

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Auboiroux V, Viallon M, Roland J, Hyacinthe JN, Petrusca L, Morel DR, Goget T, Terraz S, Gross P, Becker CD, Salomir R Abstract MR acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) is an elegant adjunct to MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound for treatment planning and optimization, permitting in situ assessment of the focusing and targeting quality. The thermal effect of high intensity focused ultrasound pulses associated with ARFI measurements is recommended to be monitored on line, in particular when the beam crosses highly absorbent structures or interfaces (e.g., bones or air-filled cavities). A dedicated MR sequence is proposed here, derived from a segmented gradient echo-echo planar imaging kernel by adding a bipolar motion encoding gradient with interleaved alternatin...

Focal salvage therapy for localized prostate cancer recurrence after external beam radiotherapy

Cancer — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS:The results from this study indicated that focal salvage therapy is a potential strategy for localized recurrence after radiotherapy that may reduce the harms resulting from whole‐gland salvage therapies. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Numerical prediction of frequency dependent 3D maps of mechanical index thresholds in ultrasonic brain therapy.

Medical Physics — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The significant frequency dependence of the volumes with an increased probability of cavitation can be attributed to two factors: First, the volume encompassed by the focal region depends on the cube of the frequency. Second, the heat deposition increases with frequency. In conclusion, according to these simulations, the acoustic environment during HIFU brain therapy at 1 MHz is not conducive to a high probability of cavitation in extended regions of the brain. PMID: 22225316 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Medical Physics)

Early experience in MRI-guided therapies of prostate cancer: HIFU, laser and photodynamic treatment.

Cancer Imaging — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:24:03 +0100

Authors: Da Rosa MR, Trachtenberg J, Chopra R, Haider MA Abstract Prostate cancer screening has resulted in earlier diagnosis with lower-grade disease, leading to over-detection and over-treatment in a significant number of patients. Current whole-gland radical treatments are associated with significant rates of morbidity. The high prevalence of low-risk disease together with an inability to accurately identify those men harboring more aggressive cancers has led to tremendous research in low-morbidity focal therapies for prostate cancer. This review summarizes the early experiences with focal therapy with emphasis on early applications of laser, high-intensity focuses ultrasound, and photodynamic approaches. PMID: 22187023 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Cancer Imaging)

Spatiotemporal Monitoring of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy with Passive Acoustic Mapping [Technical Developments]

Radiology — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Passive acoustic mapping significantly outperformed the conventional hyperecho technique as an ultrasound-based HIFU monitoring method, as both a detector of lesion occurrence and a method of mapping the position of ablated tissue. © RSNA, 2011 Supplemental material: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.11110670/-/DC1 (Source: Radiology)

Realtime Control of Multiple-focus Phased Array Heating Patterns Based on Noninvasive Ultrasound Thermography

IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:24:56 +0100

A system for the realtime generation and control of multiple-focus ultrasound phased-array heating patterns is presented. The system employs a 1-MHz, 64-element array and driving electronics capable of fine spatial and temporal control of the heating pattern. The driver is integrated with a realtime 2-D temperature imaging system implemented on a commercial scanner. The coordinates of the temperature control points are defined on B-mode guidance images from the scanner, together with the temperature set points and controller parameters. The temperature at each point is controlled by an independent proportional, integral, and derivative controller that determines the focal intensity at that point. Optimal multiple-focus synthesis is applied to generate the desired heating pattern at the con...

MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound for noninvasive cancer treatment.

Cancer Imaging — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:54:02 +0100

Authors: Huisman M, van den Bosch MA Abstract Magnetic resonance (MR)-high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an innovative, noninvasive tumour ablation technique. MR imaging and focused ultrasound are combined allowing real-time anatomic guidance and temperature mapping during treatment. Recently, the volumetric ablation approach has been introduced in order to reduce treatment length and provide more homogeneous tumour ablation. After successful treatment of uterine fibroids, MR-HIFU is currently being investigated for the treatment of malignant tumours. Palliative treatment of painful bone metastases is already applied in clinical practice. Several issues need to be further investigated for successful cancer treatment with MR-HIFU, including patient selection criteria, defin...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Comparative study of temperature measurements in ex vivo swine muscle and a tissue-mimicking material during high intensity focused ultrasound exposures.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:51:30 +0100

Authors: Maruvada S, Liu Y, Pritchard WF, Herman BA, Harris GR Abstract Tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) can provide a convenient, stable, and reproducible means for testing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) devices. When TMMs containing thermal sensors are used to measure ultrasound-induced temperature rise, it is important that measurement results reasonably represent those that occur in biological tissue. Therefore the aim of this paper is to compare the thermal behavior of the TMM under HIFU exposure to that of ex vivo tissue. This was accomplished using both a previously developed TMM and fresh ex vivo swine muscle that were instrumented with bare 50 µm thin wire thermocouples. HIFU at 825 kHz was focused at the thermocouple junction. 30 s exposures of increasing peak...

Estimation of thermal dose from MR thermometry during application of nonablative pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion:The temperature and thermal dose measured using MR thermometry during pulsed HIFU treatment is probably sufficient in most instances. Simple corrections may be used to calculate an upper bound where this is a critical factor. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Toward MR‐guided high intensity focused ultrasound for presurgical localization: Focused ultrasound lesions in cadaveric breast tissue

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion:The results of this preliminary study show MR‐HIFU has the ability to create palpable lesions in ex vivo cadaveric breast tissue, and may potentially be used to preoperatively localize nonpalpable breast tumors. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Enhanced-heating effect during photoacoustic imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound

Applied Physics Letters — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:12:47 +0100

Huizhong Cui and Xinmai Yang Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) technique has been used to monitor thermal lesion formation during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. While previous studies focused on photoacoustic detection of changes in temperature during HIFU treatment, we report an enhanced-heating effect when PAI ... [Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 231113 (2011)] published Fri Dec 9, 2011. (Source: Applied Physics Letters)

Targeted Vessel Ablation for More Efficient Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Uterine Fibroids

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:47:05 +0100

Conclusion Targeted vessel ablation during MR-HIFU allowed nearly complete fibroid ablation in both patients. This technique may enhance the use of MR-HIFU for fibroid treatment in clinical practice. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Technical NotePages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s00270-011-0313-9Authors Marianne J. Voogt, Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The NetherlandsMarijn van Stralen, Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The NetherlandsMarlijne E. Ikink, Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The NetherlandsRoel Deckers, Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberg...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

HIFU ablation is not a proven standard treatment for localized prostate cancer.

Canadian Urological Association Journal — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: So AI PMID: 22154640 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Urological Association Journal)

HIFU: Definitely ready for prime time.

Canadian Urological Association Journal — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Barkin J PMID: 22154639 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Urological Association Journal)

Changes in Ultrasonic Properties of Liver Tissue In Vitro During Heating-Cooling Cycle Concomitant with Thermal Coagulation

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:38:44 +0100

Abstract: The present work considers the ultrasonic properties of porcine liver tissue in vitro measured during heating concomitant with thermal coagulation followed by natural cooling, so as to provide information about changes in the ultrasonic properties of the tissue after thermal coagulation. The excised liver samples were heated in a degassed water bath up to 75°C and naturally cooled down to 30°C. The tissue was observed to begin thermally coagulating at temperatures lower than 75°C. The ultrasonic parameters considered include the speed of sound, the attenuation coefficient, the backscatter coefficient and the nonlinear parameter of B/A. They were more sensitive to temperature when heating than during natural cooling. All of the parameters were shown to rise significantly on co...

Miniaturized High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Device in Patients with Glaucoma: A Clinical Pilot Study [Clinical Trials]

Investigative Ophthalmology — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Ultrasonic circular cyclocoagulation using high-intensity focused ultrasound delivered by a circular miniaturized device containing six piezoceramic transducers seems to be an effective and well-tolerated method to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with refractory glaucoma. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)

Update on Thermal Ablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Oncologic Control, Technique Comparison, Renal Function Preservation, and New Modalities

Current Urology Reports — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:54:26 +0100

Abstract Recent studies report mid- and long-term oncologic control with thermal ablation for small renal tumors to be equivalent to surgery. Comparisons of cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and laparoscopic approaches to percutaneous approaches report equivalent results. Studies report little or no decrease in renal function after ablation of renal tumors. These studies support the use of percutaneous thermal ablation for treatment of small renal malignancies. Studies also report that percutaneous ablation is a safe and durable treatment of the primary tumor in stage IV patients, ultrasound guidance for percutaneous ablation can be effective, and chyluria is relatively common after RFA. Results were disappointing for newer ablation techniques, including microwa...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Multifunctional Mesoporous Composite Nanocapsules for Highly Efficient MRI-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Cancer Surgery.

Angewandte Chemie — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chen Y, Chen H, Sun Y, Zheng Y, Zeng D, Li F, Zhang S, Wang X, Zhang K, Ma M, He Q, Zhang L, Shi J PMID: 22076783 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Angewandte Chemie)

Whole‐gland salvage high‐intensity focused ultrasound therapy for localized prostate cancer recurrence after external beam radiation therapy

Cancer — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS:Salvage whole‐gland HIFU is a high‐risk procedure. Although its use in early cancer control is promising, strategies to better identify metastatic disease prior to salvage therapy and reduce local toxicity are needed to improve on this. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer)

Optimal transcostal high-intensity focused ultrasound with combined real-time 3D movement tracking and correction.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:58:27 +0100

Authors: Marquet F, Aubry JF, Pernot M, Fink M, Tanter M Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of transcostal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment in liver. However, two factors limit thermal necrosis of the liver through the ribs: the energy deposition at focus is decreased by the respiratory movement of the liver and the energy deposition on the skin is increased by the presence of highly absorbing bone structures. Ex vivo ablations were conducted to validate the feasibility of a transcostal real-time 3D movement tracking and correction mode. Experiments were conducted through a chest phantom made of three human ribs immersed in water and were placed in front of a 300 element array working at 1 MHz. A binarized apodization law introduced recently...

The Influence of Blood Supply on High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: A Preliminary Study on Rabbit Hepatic VX2 Tumors of Different Ages

Academic Radiology — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The extent of a tumor’s blood supply had a significant effect on the temperature-decrease phase but not on the temperature-increase phase during HIFU treatment. The longer the temperature-decrease phase, the more slowly heat dissipated after HIFU, resulting in larger coagulation necrosis volumes. (Source: Academic Radiology)

Simultaneous T(1) measurements and proton resonance frequency shift based thermometry using variable flip angles.

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Simultaneous T(1) measurements and proton resonance frequency shift based thermometry using variable flip angles. Magn Reson Med. 2011 Nov 2; Authors: Hey S, de Smet M, Stehning C, Grüll H, Keupp J, Moonen CT, Ries M Abstract A method is presented which allows precise temperature and longitudinal (T(1) ) relaxation time measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution. This is achieved by combining dynamic variable flip angle based T(1) relaxation mapping with proton resonance frequency shift based thermometry. Herein, dynamic T(1) mapping is either used as a complementary measure of temperature or for the detection of T(1) contrast agent release. For the first application, the temperature evolution during a high-intensity focused ultrasound tissue ablation experimen...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

MR-Guided Thermotherapy of Abdominal Organs Using a Robust PCA-Based Motion Descriptor

IEE Transactions on Medical Imaging — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Thermotherapies can now be guided in real-time using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This technique is rapidly gaining importance in interventional therapies for abdominal organs such as liver and kidney. An accurate online estimation and characterization of organ displacement is mandatory to prevent misregistration and correct for motion related thermometry artifacts. In addition, when the ablation is performed with an extracorporal heating device such as high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), the continuous estimation of the organ displacement is the basis for the dynamic adjustment of the focal point position to track the targeted pathological tissue. In this paper, we describe the use of an optimized principal component analysis (PCA)-based motion descriptor to characterize in rea...

Role of high-intensity focused ultrasound in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The American Surgeon — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shen HP, Gong JP, Zuo GQ Abstract About 70 per cent of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are diagnosed at intermediate or advanced stages, and most of them are technically unresectable. As a novel, emerging therapeutic modality, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has a great potential for tumor treatment. In this review, principle of HIFU technique is introduced, and an overview of clinical applications and limitations of HIFU for HCC treatment, as well as prospects for future development, is provided. Consequently, HIFU has been considered a safe and feasible procedure for HCC treatment. PMID: 22196664 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Surgeon)

Follow-Up of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, HIFU is safe and effective for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma; HIFU can improve the survival quality of patients with HCC. (Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology)

Performance Assessment of HIFU Lesion Detection by Harmonic Motion Imaging for Focused Ultrasound (HMIFU): A 3-D Finite-Element-Based Framework with Experimental Validation

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, a theoretical framework of HMIFU is presented, comprising a customized nonlinear wave propagation model, a finite-element (FE) analysis module and an image-formation model. The objective of this study is to develop such a framework to (1) assess the fundamental performance of HMIFU in detecting HIFU lesions based on the change in tissue apparent elasticity, i.e., the increasing Young’s modulus, and the HIFU lesion size with respect to the HIFU exposure time and (2) validate the simulation findings ex vivo. The same HMI and HMIFU parameters as in the experimental studies were used, i.e., 4.5-MHz HIFU frequency and 25 Hz AM frequency. For a lesion-to-background Young’s modulus ratio of 3, 6 and 9, the FE and estimated HMI displacement ratios were equal to 1.83, 3.69 and 5...

Spatiotemporal Monitoring of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy with Passive Acoustic Mapping [Technical Developments]

Continuous Publishing articles — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Passive mapping allows real-time treatment monitoring by enabling localization of high-intensity focused ultrasound focus, quantitative prediction of lesion occurrence beyond an emission energy threshold level, and avoidance of boiling and prefocal damage. (Source: Continuous Publishing articles)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Ultrasound-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (USgHIFU) Ablation in Pancreatic Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:57:01 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letter to the EditorPages 1-4DOI 10.1007/s00270-011-0291-yAuthors Gianluigi Orgera, Unit of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, MI, ItalyMiltiadis Krokidis, Unit of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, MI, ItalyLorenzo Monfardini, Unit of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, MI, ItalyPaolo Arnone, Division of Senology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, MI, ItalyGuido Bonomo, Unit of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, MI, ItalyPaolo Della Vigna, Unit of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology,...

EDAP Reports 61% Sequential Revenue Increase for Third Quarter 2011

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0100

LYON, France, Oct. 13, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced today preliminary unaudited top-line financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. Preliminary total revenue for the third quarter 2011 is expected to be approximately EUR 6.1 million (USD 8.5 million), a 61% increase compared to second quarter 2011 revenue of EUR 3.8 million (USD 5.5 million) and a 14% increase compared to third quarter 2010 revenue of EUR 5.3 million (USD 7.0 million). Third quarter 2011 results reflected the sales of fourteen lithotripsy devices and one Ablatherm-HIFU machine. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

[Which components should living guidelines contain?]

Der Urologe. Ausg. A — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Weißbach L Abstract BACKGROUND: Due to rapidly developing knowledge guidelines should be regularly, i.e. annually, checked for validity and amended. METHODS: Exemplified by the S3 guidelines on prostate cancer a contradiction between the need for updating and financial resources can be seen. Because the participating experts have only limited availability, the hurdles in the application procedure linked to bureaucracy should at least be dropped. RESULTS: In the living guidelines on prostate cancer key questions on 13 updating and 5 primary points in question have been formulated and resolved. Examples of updating are imaging, active surveillance and high-intensity focused ultrasound and for primary p...

Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Stiffness, Exposure Time and Scan Direction on the Dimension of Ultrasound Histotripsy Lesions

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study experimentally investigated the effects of stiffness, exposure time and scan direction on the size of histotripsy-induced lesions in agar samples. A targeted region 0.45 cm wide (lateral) and 0.6 cm deep (axial) was scanned with the step sizes of 0.075 cm and 0.3 cm, respectively. The single-element spherically focused source (1.1 MHz, 6.34 cm focal length, f/1) had the peak compressional and rarefactional pressures of approximately 102 and 17 MPa. Pulses consisted of 20-cycle sine wave tone bursts with a burst period of 3 ms and exposure time of 15, 30 or 60 s. Also, both inward and outward scan direction were tested along the beam axis. The liquefied lesions generally had a larger size than the initially targeted region with larger sizes corresponding to softer agar and long...

Impact of Nonlinear Distortion on Acoustic Radiation Force Elastography

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Abstract: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) produces an acoustic radiation force that induces tissue displacement, which can be measured by monitoring time shifts in the backscattered signals from interrogation pulses. If the pulse occurs simultaneously with the HIFU, the arrival time of the backscatter will be biased because nonlinearity associated with the HIFU changes the local sound speed. Measurements of the pressure field using 1.1 MHz HIFU and a 7.5 MHz pulse in water exhibited a nonlinearly induced apparent displacement (NIAD) that varied with the HIFU pressure, propagation distance and the timing of the pulse relative to the HIFU. Nonlinear simulations employing the KZK equation predicted NIADs that agreed with measurements. Experiments with chicken breast demonstrated a N...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Automatic Nonrigid Calibration of Image Registration for Real Time MR-Guided HIFU Ablations of Mobile Organs

IEE Transactions on Medical Imaging — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Real time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rapidly gaining importance in interventional therapies. An accurate motion estimation is required for mobile targets and can be conveniently addressed using an image registration algorithm. Since the adaptation of the control parameters of the algorithm depends on the application (targeted organ, location of the tumor, slice orientation, etc.), typically an individual calibration is required. However, the assessment of the estimated motion accuracy is difficult since the real target motion is unknown. In this paper, existing criteria based only on anatomical image similarity are demonstrated to be inadequate. A new criterion is introduced, which is based on the local magnetic field distribution. The proposed criterion was used to assess, during...

Real-time monitoring of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablations with photoacoustic technique: An in vitro study.

Medical Physics — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Through measurement of the photoacoustic signal, the authors demonstrated that monitoring thermal dose may be a more appropriate method in HIFU treatment than monitoring temperature. PMID: 21992353 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Medical Physics)

Introduction of new atrial fibrillation ablation technology into clinical practice: The cart before the horse?

Heart Rhythm — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Over the past decade, point-by-point ablation using irrigated radiofrequency (RF) ablation has become the apparent gold standard for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. An enormous body of observational and prospective randomized data attests to its acute efficacy, safety, and long-term success in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) with a dramatic impact on the quality of life of patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF. However, even with 3D mapping, the procedure requires significant technical expertise, with, at times, lengthy procedure and fluoroscopy duration. In an attempt to simplify the procedure (and to perhaps further improve on safety), a variety of “one-shot” technologies for circumferential isolation of the PVs have been developed. Such an approach has the seductive theoretical...

Preliminary safety and efficacy results with robotic high-intensity focused ultrasound : A single center Indian experience

Indian Journal of Urology — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions : HIFU was safe in carcinoma prostate patients. The short-term results were efficacious in localized disease. The low complication rates and favorable functional outcome support the planning of further larger studies. (Source: Indian Journal of Urology)

Clinically Significant Urethral Stricture and/or Subclinical Urethral Stricture after High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Correlates with Disease-Free Survival in Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer

Urologia Internationalis : Last 20 articles — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Urol Int (DOI:10.1159/000330909) (Source: Urologia Internationalis : Last 20 articles)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Volumetric feedback ablation of uterine fibroids using magnetic resonance-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy

European Radiology — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 06:01:31 +0100

Conclusion This prospective multicenter study proved that volumetric MR-HIFU is safe and technically feasible for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. Key Points • Magnetic-resonance-guided high intensity focused ultrasound allows non-invasive treatment of uterine fibroids. • Volumetric feedback ablation is a novel technology that allows larger treatment volumes • MR-guided ultrasound ablation of uterine fibroids appears safe using volumetric feedback Content Type Journal ArticleCategory InterventionalPages 1-7DOI 10.1007/s00330-011-2262-8Authors M. J. Voogt, Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 GX Utrecht, The NetherlandsH. Trillaud, Department of Radiology, Hospi...

A Randomized, Single‐Blind, Postmarketing Study of Multiple Energy Levels of High‐Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Noninvasive Body Sculpting

Dermatologic Surgery — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

ConclusionHIFU treatment at different energy levels and multiple tissue depths was well tolerated and effective in reducing waist circumference. (Source: Dermatologic Surgery)

Atlantic HIFU Announces More Affordable Access To New Alternative Non-Invasive Diagnosis And Treatment Options For Men With A Rising PSA Or Prostate Cancer

Medical Design Online News — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:42:00 +0100

Atlantic HIFU offers 3T MRI-S technology, an exciting new medical imaging option for all men with rising PSA or prior biopsies that help urologists diagnose and treat prostate disease and cancer more effectively than other imaging methods such as x-ray, ultrasound, or CAT (Source: Medical Design Online News)

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment of Abnormal Bleeding Secondary to Uterine Myoma

The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:31:03 +0100

Lim et al from South Korea describe the use of high-intensity focused ultrasonography for treatment of acute vaginal bleeding caused by myomas in 2 young women, both nulliparous and desirous of maintaining their reproductive capacity. Both patients presented with abdominal pain, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, and significant symptomatic anemia (hemoglobin = 7 g/dL). (Source: The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology)

MRIgHIFU: A tool for image‐guided therapeutics

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:56:51 +0100

AbstractHigh‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) provides focal delivery of mechanical energy deep into the body. This energy can be used to elevate the tissue temperature to such a degree that ablation is achieved. The elevated temperature can also be used to release drugs from temperature‐sensitive carriers or activate therapeutic molecules using mechanical or thermal energy. Lower dose exposures modify the vasculature to allow large molecules to diffuse from blood in the surrounding tissue for local drug delivery. The energy delivery can be targeted and monitored using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The online image guidance and monitoring provides treatment delivery that is customized to each patient such that optimal, effective treatment can be achieved. This ability to localiz...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

EDAP Partnership Wins EUR 2.4 Million Grant for Development of Innovative Imaging Solution for Focal Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:30:00 +0100

LYON, France, Aug. 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced today that its development partnership has been awarded a EUR 2.4 million grant for further development of Ablatherm-HIFU technology to incorporate improved imaging and diagnostic techniques in line with the focal therapy approach for treating localized prostate cancer. The development partnership, comprised of EDAP, Edouard Herriot Hospital, and SuperSonic Imagine, received the highly competitive grant from Fonds Unique Interministerial (FUI), a French government fund for advancing technical innovation with short and midterm market applications, together with Regional Councils Grand Lyon, PACA, Competitive Clusters Lyonbiopole and Eurobiomed. (Source: Medical N...

Does HIFU Adequately Kill Prostate Cancer Cells?Does HIFU Adequately Kill Prostate Cancer Cells?

Medscape Urology Headlines — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0100

A long-term study of 10 prostate cancer patients treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) raises questions about HIFU’s ability to kill cancer cells. Dr. Gerald Chodak discusses the issue. Medscape Urology (Source: Medscape Urology Headlines)

Modelling of the acoustic field of a multi-element HIFU array scattered by human ribs.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:37:08 +0100

Authors: Gélat P, Ter Haar G, Saffari N Abstract The efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of a range of different cancers, including those of the liver, prostate and breast, has been demonstrated. As a non-invasive focused therapy, HIFU offers considerable advantages over techniques such as chemotherapy and surgical resection in terms of reduced risk of harmful side effects. Despite this, there are a number of significant challenges which currently hinder its widespread clinical application. One of these challenges is the need to transmit sufficient energy through the rib cage to induce tissue necrosis in the required volume whilst minimizing the formation of side lobes. Multi-element random-phased arrays are currently showing great promise in ove...

High-intensity focused ultrasound as a treatment for colorectal liver metastasis in difficult position

International Journal of Colorectal Disease — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 06:11:11 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-2DOI 10.1007/s00384-011-1304-7Authors Tan To Cheung, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, ChinaRonnie Tung Ping Poon, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, ChinaThomas Yau, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, ChinaDickson Sing Fung Tsang, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, ChinaChung Mau Lo, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, ChinaSheung Tat Fan, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, China Journal International Journal of Colorectal DiseaseOnline ISSN 1432-1262Pri...

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: First Human Feasibility Study

Thyroid — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:36:35 +0100

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Thyroid)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Targeted Long-Term Venous Occlusion Using Pulsed High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Combined with a Pro-Inflammatory Agent

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, we investigated a new potential method for inducing long-term vascular occlusion by targeting segments of a rabbit’s auricular vein in vivo with low-duty-cycle, high-peak-rarefaction pressure (9 MPa), pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound in the presence of intravenously administered ultrasound microbubbles followed by local injection of fibrinogen and a pro-inflammatory agent (ethanol, cyanoacrylate or morrhuate sodium). The novel method introduced in this study resulted in acute and long-term complete vascular occlusions when injecting a pro-inflammatory agent with fibrinogen. Future investigation and translational studies are needed to assess its clinical applicability. (Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology)

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)-Assisted Hepatic Resection in an Animal Model

Annals of Surgical Oncology — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:47:48 +0100

Conclusions HIFU-assisted hepatic resection during an open procedure in an animal model is safe, reduces bleeding, and allows real-time ultrasound guidance. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-8DOI 10.1245/s10434-011-1875-0Authors Alessandro Gandini, Institut de chirurgie expérimentale, CRLCC Léon Bérard, Lyon, FranceDavid Melodelima, Applications des ultrasons à la thérapie INSERM, Université Claude Bernard—Lyon I, Lyon, FranceFrancesco Schenone, Institut de chirurgie expérimentale, CRLCC Léon Bérard, Lyon, FranceApoutou William N’Djin, Applications des ultrasons à la thérapie INSERM, Université Claude Bernard—Lyon I, Lyon, FranceJean Yves Chapelon, Applications des ultrasons à la thérapie INSERM, Université Claude Bernard—Lyon I, Lyon, France...

Re: Salvage Radical Prostatectomy Following Primary High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Treatment of Prostate Cancer: N. Lawrentschuk, A. Finelli, T. H. van der Kwast, P. Ryan, D. M. Bolton, N. E. Fleshner, J. Trachtenberg, L. Klotz, M. Robinette and H. Woo J Urol 2011;185: 862–868

The Journal of Urology — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

We wish to thank Lawrentschuk et al for sharing the outcomes of their series of patients undergoing salvage radical prostatectomy following primary whole gland high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. This cohort represents a management challenge, so we congratulate the authors for a valuable contribution to an area that lacks robust data. These prospective results correlate with salvage radiotherapy following primary HIFU, with oncologic and functional outcomes that are acceptable for such a high risk group. In addition, outcomes from this series are similar to other salvage prostatectomy studies, including a series of 15 patients undergoing salvage laparoscopic radical prostatectomy following primary external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy or cryotherapy. (Source: The Journa...

Reply by Authors

The Journal of Urology — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

We thank Dickinson et al for their interest in our series. We agree that incomplete primary treatment for prostate cancer through limited expertise and/or poor patient selection was a factor in the less than ideal outcomes in our cohort undergoing HIFU who had failed therapy and then required radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. However, these factors should not impact a much higher than expected up-staging seen on pathological assessment of the radical prostatectomy specimens in our series. We agree that there are more sophisticated approaches to characterizing disease before primary HIFU, although these approaches are not yet in widespread practice. The men who underwent primary HIFU were assessed at expert academic centers and had generally favorable risk disease that would have b...

The Effect of the Scanning Pathway in High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy on Lesion Production

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Because tumors are much larger in size compared with the beam width of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), raster scanning throughout the entire target is conventionally performed for HIFU thermal ablation. Thermal diffusion affects the temperature elevation and the consequent lesion formation. As a result, the lesion will grow continuously over the course of HIFU therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of scanning pathways on the overall thermal lesion. Two new scanning pathways, spiral scanning from the center to the outside and spiral scanning from the outside to the center, were proposed with the same HIFU parameters (power and exposure time) for each treatment spot. The lesions produced in the gel phantom and bovine liver were compared with ...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

A faster nonsurgical solution: Very large fibroid tumors yielded to a new ablation strategy

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and magnetic resonance (MR)–guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation are increasingly used in clinical practice as nonsurgical treatment modalities for symptomatic uterine fibroids. However, UFE is inevitably accompanied by exposure to ionizing radiation, and it is usually followed by severe pelvic pain. MR-HIFU ablation requires a lengthy procedure time, especially when treating larger fibroids; to overcome this drawback, a new strategy, volumetric MR-HIFU ablation, has been recently developed. While the conventional point-by-point sonication method only achieves a relatively small ablation zone, volumetric ablation can target treatment cells ranging from 4-16 mm in axial diameter, and this is expected to reduce treatment time. (Source:...

Health‐related quality of life after salvage high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for locally radiorecurrent prostate cancer

International Journal of Urology — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Treatment of localized radiorecurrent PCa by salvage HIFU is associated with clinically significant reductions in urinary and sexual function domains after a mean follow‐up of 17.5 months. (Source: International Journal of Urology)

Pancreatic endocrine tumors: a report on a patient treated with sorafenib.

J Korean Med Sci — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Jeong HK, Roh SY, Hong SH, Won HS, Jeon EK, Shin OR, Lee SL, Ko YH A 31-yr-old man with abdominal pain was diagnosed with a pancreatic endocrine tumor and multiple hepatic metastases. Despite optimal treatment with interferon alpha, a somatostatin analog, local therapy with high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for multiple hepatic metastases, and multiple lines of chemotherapy with etoposide/cisplatin combination chemotherapy and gemcitabine monotherapy, the tumor progressed. As few chemotherapeutic options were available for him, sorafenib (800 mg/day, daily) was administered as a salvage regimen. Sorafenib was continued despite two episodes of grade 3 skin toxicity; it delayed tumor progression compared to the previous immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Serial computed to...

Editorial Comment to Health‐related quality of life after salvage high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for locally radiorecurrent prostate cancer

International Journal of Urology — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: International Journal of Urology)

MR-guided High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment for Symptomatic Uterine Leiomyomata: Long-term Outcomes

Academic Radiology — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:37:45 +0100

Conclusions: Long-term follow-up data from MR-g HIFU treatments show sustained symptomatic relief among enrolled patients. Although the results are preliminary, MR-g HIFU for the treatment of uterine leiomyomata may result in acceptable long-term outcomes at 3 years. (Source: Academic Radiology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Anticancer Potency of Cytotoxic Drugs after Exposure to High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Presence of Microbubbles and Hematoporphyrin

Molecular Pharmaceutics — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:33:37 +0100

Molecular PharmaceuticsDOI: 10.1021/mp2001846 (Source: Molecular Pharmaceutics)

High-Intensity Ultrasound Provides New Approach To Body Sculpting

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +0100

A "body sculpting" technique using high-intensity focused ultrasound to eliminate unwanted abdominal fat effectively reduces waist circumference, with only minor pain and side effects, reports a study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Body sculpting is defined as "the optimization of the smoothness, definition, or silhouette of the human physique, particularly the torso... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Location of residual cancer after transrectal high‐intensity focused ultrasound ablation for clinically localized prostate cancer

BJU International — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION• When a 6‐mm apical safety margin is used, residual cancer after HIFU ablation is found significantly more frequently in the apex. (Source: BJU International)

Reconstruction of fully three‐dimensional high spatial and temporal resolution MR temperature maps for retrospective applications

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This article describes an approach to achieve these goals, which is suitable for research applications where retrospective reconstruction of the temperature maps is acceptable. The method acquires undersampled data from a modified three‐dimensional segmented echo‐planar imaging sequence and creates images using a temporally constrained reconstruction algorithm. The three‐dimensional images can be zero‐filled to arbitrarily small voxel spacing in all directions and then converted into temperature maps using the standard proton resonance frequency shift technique. During high intensity focused ultrasound heating experiments, the proposed method was used to obtain temperature maps with 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm × 3.0 mm resolution, 288 mm × 162 mm × 78 mm field of view, and 1.7 s temporal r...

Reconstruction of fully three-dimensional high spatial and temporal resolution MR temperature maps for retrospective applications.

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This article describes an approach to achieve these goals, which is suitable for research applications where retrospective reconstruction of the temperature maps is acceptable. The method acquires undersampled data from a modified three-dimensional segmented echo-planar imaging sequence and creates images using a temporally constrained reconstruction algorithm. The three-dimensional images can be zero-filled to arbitrarily small voxel spacing in all directions and then converted into temperature maps using the standard proton resonance frequency shift technique. During high intensity focused ultrasound heating experiments, the proposed method was used to obtain temperature maps with 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm × 3.0 mm resolution, 288 mm × 162 mm × 78 mm field of view, and 1.7 s temporal resolutio...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Acoustic Droplet Vaporization for Enhancement of Thermal Ablation by High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Academic Radiology — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: ADV bubbles may facilitate clinical HIFU ablation by reducing treatment time or requisite in situ total acoustic power and provide ultrasonic imaging feedback of the thermal therapy. (Source: Academic Radiology)

An Adaptive Spectral Estimation Technique to Detect Cavitation in HIFU With High Spatial Resolution

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:40:31 +0100

Abstract: In ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, the changes observed on tissue are subtle during treatment; some ultrasound-guided HIFU protocols rely on the observation of significant brightness changes as the indicator of tissue lesions. The occurrence of a distinct hyperechogenic region (“bright-up”) around the focus is often associated with acoustic cavitation resulting in microbubble formation, but it may indicate different physical events such as larger bubbles from boiling (known to alter acoustic impedance) or sometimes lesion formation. A reliable method to distinguish and spatially localize these causes within the tissue would assist the control of HIFU delivery, which is the subject of this paper. Spectral analysis of the radio frequency (RF)...

Premature Cardiac Contractions Produced Efficiently By External High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:40:30 +0100

This study demonstrates that creation of localized microbubble population at the target promotes generation of PVCs without the need to inject contrast agents. (Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology)

Fast Monitoring of Species-Specific Peptide Biomarkers Using High-Intensity-Focused-Ultrasound-Assisted Tryptic Digestion and Selected MS/MS Ion Monitoring

Analytical Chemistry — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:34:27 +0100

Analytical ChemistryDOI: 10.1021/ac200890w (Source: Analytical Chemistry)

An MR-compliant phased-array HIFU transducer with augmented steering range, dedicated to abdominal thermotherapy.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:47:13 +0100

Authors: Auboiroux V, Dumont E, Petrusca L, Viallon M, Salomir R A novel architecture for a phased-array high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device was investigated, aiming to increase the capabilities of electronic steering without reducing the size of the elementary emitters. The principal medical application expected to benefit from these developments is the time-effective sonication of large tumours in moving organs. The underlying principle consists of dividing the full array of transducers into multiple sub-arrays of different resonance frequencies, with the reorientation of these individual emitters, such that each sub-array can focus within a given spatial zone. To enable magnetic resonance (MR) compatibility of the device and the number of output channels from the RF gene...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Treatment modalities: HIFU is effective for unresectable HCC

Nature Clinical Practice Oncology — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 8, 385 (2011). doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2011.81 Author: Lisa Hutchinson Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have high morbidity and mortality. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a local ablation therapy that, unlike other standard ablation methods, does not puncture the tumor; therefore, it is not associated with the risk of bleeding and cancer cell dissemination. Although (Source: Nature Clinical Practice Oncology)

Focal therapy with high-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer in the elderly: a feasibility study with 10 years follow-up

International Braz J Urol — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:04:03 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Hemi-prostate ablation with HIFU can be safely performed in selected elderly patients with adequate long-term cancer control and low complication rates. Results from larger prospective studies using improved imaging techniques and extensive biopsy protocols are awaited. (Source: International Braz J Urol)

Treatment of Small Hepatocellular Carcinomas with US-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, HIFU is effective for the treatment of patients with small liver cancer. (Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology)

Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Combination With High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Chinese Literature

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, combined therapy was more therapeutically beneficial. However, considering the strength of the evidence, additional randomized controlled trials are needed before combined therapy can be recommended routinely. (Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology)

Safety and Efficacy of High‐Intensity Focused Ultrasound Atop Coronary Arteries During Epicardial Catheter Ablation

Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: HIFU has the potential to create deep ventricular lesions with relative sparing of the LAD. The incremental arterial damage noted over time warrants further evaluation to support the viability of focusing ultrasound energy beyond vulnerable critical structures to ablate deeper targets. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. pp. 1‐7) (Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

What Is HIFU? Is It Available in the United States?

About.com Prostate Cancer — Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

HIFU is an acronym which stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound. It is a technology that utilizes ultrasound waves that have been focused onto a very small area to generate intense heat at that site....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Prostate Cancer)

Real-Time Passive Acoustic Monitoring of HIFU-Induced Tissue Damage

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:09:12 +0100

Abstract: Thermal ablation by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) shows great promise as a noninvasive cancer therapy. This work proposes a novel method of real-time HIFU treatment monitoring that uses the passively monitored acoustic signal emanating from the focus during HIFU exposure. We performed 212 exposures in seven freshly excised ox livers using 1.067-MHz HIFU at a 95% duty cycle for a range of insonation durations and acoustic intensities. Acoustic emissions were recorded using a 15-MHz passive detector aligned confocally and coaxially with the HIFU transducer. Lesion presence and size were ascertained by slicing the tissue in the transverse and axial focal planes post exposure. Our results demonstrate that successful formation of HIFU lesions in ex vivo ox liver is highly c...

EDAP to Showcase Ablatherm(R) HIFU Data at 4th International Symposium on Focal Therapy & Imaging in Prostate & Kidney Cancer

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:30:00 +0100

LYON, France, May 25, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, today announced two abstracts supporting the Ablatherm(r) High Intensity Focused Ultrasound's (HIFU) efficacy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer will be featured at the 4th International Symposium on Focal Therapy & Imaging in Prostate & Kidney Cancer, held on May 25 -- 27, 2011 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. EDAP will feature its Ablatherm-HIFU technology at its booth. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

HIFU shows 83% cancer-free rate in 10-year study of localized PCa

Modern Medicine — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Ten-year data from an international registry-based multicenter study showed that 83% of patients with localized prostate had no biopsy evidence of disease after treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). (Source: Modern Medicine)

AUA: HIFU Data Focus on Prostate Biopsy Results (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:51:06 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- More than 80% of men with localized prostate cancer had negative biopsies for as long as 10 years after treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), data from a large clinical registry showed. (Source: MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Largest Long-Term Study Confirms EDAP's Ablatherm(R) HIFU Is Effective, Highly Reproducible Primary Treatment For Localized Prostate Cancer

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 +0100

EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq: EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced today that new 10 year data from an international registry-based multi-center study shows 83 percent of patients had no biopsy evidence of disease after treatment with Ablatherm® HIFU, supporting the technology as a standard primary treatment for localized prostate cancer. Study results were presented at the American Urological Association (AUA) 2011 Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Conflicting robotic prostatectomy studies underscore robotics debate

Modern Medicine — Sat, 14 May 2011 22:32:33 +0100

Urologists attending localized prostate cancer sessions at the upcoming AUA annual meeting in Washington will hear more about the ongoing debate on open versus minimally invasive radical prostatectomy, the use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) in men on active surveillance, and updates on treatment approaches such as high-intensity focused ultrasound. (Source: Modern Medicine)

EDAP Features New Ablatherm(R) HIFU Data Supporting Superior Efficacy for Treatment of Local Prostate Cancer at American Urological Association Annual Meeting

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:45:00 +0100

LYON, France, May 12, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, today announced Ablatherm(r) High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) will be featured in four presentations supporting the technology's efficacy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The data and EDAP's line of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) products will be showcased at the American Urological Association (AUA) 2011 Annual Meeting, held May 14-19 in Washington, D.C. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

Published 15-Year Clinical Review Supports EDAP's Ablatherm(R) HIFU as Viable Primary Treatment for Local Prostate Cancer at Any Stage

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 +0100

LYON, France, May 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced a published 15-year clinical review of Ablatherm(r) HIFU data supports the potential for this minimally invasive treatment to be used as a primary local therapy for men with any stage of prostate cancer. The paper was co-authored by renowned urology experts and HIFU pioneers Professor Christian Chaussy and Dr. Stefan Thuroff of Germany. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

Role of imaging and biopsy to assess local recurrence after definitive treatment for prostate carcinoma (surgery, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, HIFU)

World Journal of Urology — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:44:59 +0100

Conclusion It is likely that imaging will be extensively used in the future to detect and localize prostate cancer local recurrences before salvage treatment. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-11DOI 10.1007/s00345-011-0687-yAuthors Pasquale Martino, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation-Urology I, University “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyVincenzo Scattoni, Department of Urology, Vita Salute San Raffaele-University, Milan, ItalyAndrea B. Galosi, Institute of Urology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, ItalyPaolo Consonni, Multimedica Hospital, Castellanza, Varese, ItalyCarlo Trombetta, Department of Urology, University of Trieste-Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, ItalySilvano Palazzo, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation-U...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Salvage radiotherapy after high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment for localized prostate cancer: feasibility, tolerance and efficacy.

Canadian Urological Association Journal — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Our early clinical results confirm the feasibility and good tolerance of salvage radiotherapy after HIFU failure. Oncological outcomes were promising. A prospective study with longer follow-up is needed to identify factors predictive of success for salvage EBRT therapy after HIFU failure. PMID: 21539766 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Canadian Urological Association Journal)

Simulation of three-dimensional nonlinear fields of ultrasound therapeutic arrays.

Acoustical Physics — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SIMULATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL NONLINEAR FIELDS OF ULTRASOUND THERAPEUTIC ARRAYS. Acoust Phys. 2011 May 1;57(3):334-343 Authors: Yuldashev PV, Khokhlova VA A novel numerical model was developed to simulate three-dimensional nonlinear fields generated by high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) arrays. The model is based on the solution to the Westervelt equation; the developed algorithm makes it possible to model nonlinear pressure fields of periodic waves in the presence of shock fronts localized near the focus. The role of nonlinear effects in a focused beam of a two-dimensional array was investigated in a numerical experiment in water. The array consisting of 256 elements and intensity range on the array elements of up to 10 W/cm(2) was considered. The results of simulation...

Results Promising From U.K. Clinical Trial Investigating Sonablate HIFU as a Focal Treatment for Prostate Cancer

HSMN NewsFeed — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:37:32 +0100

Findings appear in this month's Journal of Urology CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 28, 2011 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- USHIFU LLC (US HIFU), a world leader in minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies and manufacturer of the Sonablate&r... Devices, OncologyUSHIFU, Focus Surgery, Sonablate 500, HIFU, prostate cancer (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Visual servoing for a US‐guided therapeutic HIFU system by coagulated lesion tracking: a phantom study

The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

ConclusionThis research shows that a HIFU‐induced CL provides a very good landmark for target motion tracking. By using the CL tracking method, target motion compensation can be realized in the US‐guided robotic HIFU system. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery)

Esophageal injury after atrial fibrillation ablation with an epicardial high-intensity focused ultrasound device

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:23:26 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-3DOI 10.1007/s10840-011-9572-2Authors Narawudt Prasertwitayakij, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute, Sparrow Health System, Michigan State University, 405 West Greenlawn, Suite 400, Lansing, MI 48910, USADeepthi Vodnala, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute, Sparrow Health System, Michigan State University, 405 West Greenlawn, Suite 400, Lansing, MI 48910, USAAra K. Pridjian, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute, Sparrow Health System, Michigan State University, 405 West Greenlawn, Suite 400, Lansing, MI 48910, USARanjan K. Thakur, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute, Sparrow Health System, Michigan State University, 405 West Greenlawn, Suite 400, Lansing, MI 48910, USA Journal Journal of Interventional Cardiac ElectrophysiologyOnline I...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Prostate Cancer Ablation with Transrectal High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: Assessment of Tissue Destruction with Contrast-enhanced US [Vascular and Interventional Radiology]

Radiology — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced US is a promising tool for distinguishing between ablated (devascularized) and viable (enhancing) tissue immediately after HIFU treatment. © RSNA, 2011 (Source: Radiology)

EDAP and Collaboration Partners Awarded EUR 1.1 Million European Grant for HIFU Triggered Drug Delivery Program

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100

LYON, France, April 14, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced today that the European Union's Eurostars Program has awarded Euro 1.1 million to the Consortium research cooperation program comprised of project leader Epitarget AS, a Norwegian Company, French academic laboratory INSERM, and EDAP. The funds will be used to accelerate the transfer of the program's ultrasound triggered drug delivery technology from laboratory to patient. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

Multicentric oncologic outcomes of high-intensity focused ultrasound for localized prostate cancer in 803 patients

International Braz J Urol — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 01:27:32 +0100

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic skills laboratory is a good method for achieving technical ability. (Source: International Braz J Urol)

Review of interventional radiology techniques in breast disease.

Radiologia — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Apesteguía Ciriza L, Ovelar Ferrero A, Alfaro Adrián C Breast imaging plays a significant role in treatment. Ultrasonography to drain fluid collections, vacuum-assisted biopsy to excise papillomas and fibroadenomas, and stereotactic excisional biopsy are a few examples of interventional procedures performed by radiologists in patients with breast disease. Moreover, there is a growing interest in the minimally invasive treatment of invasive tumors, which aims to achieve the same efficacy while minimizing morbidity and improving the esthetic outcome. Especially noteworthy are thermal ablation techniques, which involve destroying tumors with heat or cold. The most widely studied thermal ablation techniques are radiofrequency, high intensity focused ultrasound, laser therapy, mi...

Noninvasive Body Sculpting Technologies with an Emphasis on High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 05:52:05 +0100

Conclusions The published literature suggests that noninvasive body-sculpting techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, cryolipolysis, external low-level lasers, laser ablation, nonthermal ultrasound, and HIFU may be appropriate options for nonobese patients requiring modest reduction of adipose tissue. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-12DOI 10.1007/s00266-011-9700-5Authors Mark L. Jewell, Jewell Plastic Surgery Center, Oregon Health Science University, 10 Coburg Road, Suite 300, Eugene, OR 97401, USANowell J. Solish, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 66 Avenue Road, Suite 1, Toronto, ON M5R 3N8, CanadaCharles S. Desilets, Medicis Technologies Corporation, 11818 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, WA 98011, USA Journal Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryOnline...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Transrectal high‐intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of localized prostate cancer

International Journal of Urology — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: HIFU represents an effective, repeatable and minimally invasive treatment. It is particularly effective for low‐ and intermediate‐risk patients, and it should be considered as an option for localized prostate cancer. (Source: International Journal of Urology)

Development of a Miniaturized HIFU Device for Glaucoma Treatment With Conformal Coagulation of the Ciliary Bodies

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This study examined the feasibility of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for glaucoma treatment with conformal coagulation of the ciliary bodies (CB). A miniaturized high frequency (21 MHz) device was developed, based on the geometry of the eye and adapted to the anatomy of the rabbit eyeball. Six line-focus lesions were distributed along a circle and produced by six cylindrical transducers. To be conformal, the numerical model predicted an intensity of 6.9 W/cm2, with exposure duration of 3 s ON (powered per sector). In vivo experiments were conducted on two rabbits. A significant intraocular pressure reduction was noted (–45% and –31%). Histology demonstrated conformal and homogeneous coagulation of the CB without side effects. (E-mail: thomas.charrel@inserm.fr) (Source: Ultra...

Robotic High-intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer: What Have We Learned in 15 Years of Clinical Use?

Current Urology Reports — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:11:57 +0100

Abstract High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging, noninvasive, local treatment of prostate cancer with 15 years of clinical experience, during which about 30,000 HIFU treatments have been performed worldwide. In this paper, we review relevant publications regarding the means by which new and old prostate cancer technologies are evaluated, the outcomes of HIFU by Ablatherm (EDAP TMS, Lyon, France), and the evolution currently underway regarding how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated. We show the potential of HIFU to be used as local therapy for men with any stage of prostate cancer and how this additional therapeutic option can fit within the future armamentarium of a sequential multimodal therapy concept. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-8...

Induction of Luciferase Activity under the Control of an hsp70 Promoter Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: Combination of Bioluminescence and MRI Imaging in Three Different Tumour Models.

Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 02:15:07 +0100

Authors: Hundt W, Steinbach S, Burbelko M, Kiessling A, Rominger M, O'Connell-Rodwell CE, Mayer D, Bednarski MD, Guccione S The in vivo temporal changes of luciferase activity were investigated under the control of an hsp70 promoter in three tumour models after the application of different intensities of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Three cell lines, SCCVII, NIH3T3 and M21 were stably transfected with a plasmid containing the hsp70 promoter and luciferase reporter gene, and tumours were subcutaneously initiated into mice. At a size of 1300 ± 234 mm(3), the tumours were exposed to five intensities of continuous HIFU (802-1401-2157-3067-4133 W/cm(2)) for 20 sec. Bioluminescence and MR imaging were performed to assess luciferase activity and signal intensity changes in the t...

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Therapeutic Tissue Ablation in Surgical Oncology

Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:02:17 +0100

High-intensity focused ultrasound as a trackless, noninvasive method of ablating tissue has been a concept with potential for more than 60 years. It is only in the past 10 to 15 years that technological advances in both the delivery system and the monitoring systems have allowed us to begin to truly explore this potential clinically. Although unique technical challenges remain to be overcome, this ablative technique has been successfully applied in nearly all regions of the body, even some hidden by dense bone. The possibility that HIFU may be synergistic in ways that other ablative therapies are not, with both chemotherapeutics and immune system modifiers, positions HIFU for further investigations into multidisciplinary, individualized therapy unique to the patient. (Source: Surgical Onco...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

The feasibility and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with low-dose external beam radiotherapy as supplemental therapy for advanced prostate cancer following hormonal therapy.

Asian Journal of Andrology — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, long-term survival of patients with advanced PCa benefited from strengthening local control of primary tumour and regional lymph node metastases after HT. As an alternative to CRT, HIFU+LRT showed good efficacy and better safety.Asian Journal of Andrology advance online publication, 14 March 2011; doi:10.1038/aja.2010.153. PMID: 21399650 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Asian Journal of Andrology)

Respective contribution of cavitation and convective flow to local stirring in sonoreactors.

Ultrasonics Sonochemistry — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:15:08 +0100

Authors: Hihn JY, Doche ML, Mandroyan A, Hallez L, Pollet BG The knowledge of respective parts of convection and cavitation to the stirring induced by ultrasound at one exact position into a sonoreactor is useful for all processes implementing surfaces exposed to sonication. PIV measurement allows real fluid motion determination, whereas the electrochemical technique gives an equivalent flow velocity considered as the sum of all stirring contributions to the electrode. Thus, by a simple subtraction between real fluid velocity and equivalent flow velocity, it is possible to identify the contribution of each phenomenon. Applied to low frequency reactors, it had been observed that cavitation is the preponderant phenomenon, with a contribution of stirring close to the electrode always more...

HIFU for Prostate Cancer: Reasons for Caution

Medscape Radiology Headlines — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:08:45 +0100

Surprisingly aggressive recurrences were seen after primary high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Radiology Headlines)

Salvage Cryotherapy for Radiation-Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Outcomes and Complications

Current Urology Reports — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:09:47 +0100

Abstract Potentially curative salvage options for radio-recurrent prostate cancer include prostatectomy, brachytherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound, and cryotherapy. Salvage cryoablation technology, surgical technique, oncologic outcomes, and complication rates have improved dramatically over the past few decades, shifting this treatment modality from investigational status to an established therapeutic option. In this review, we focus on the most up-to-date oncologic and functional outcomes, as well as complications of salvage cryotherapy for radiation-recurrent prostate cancer. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-7DOI 10.1007/s11934-011-0182-4Authors David S. Finley, Institute of Urologic Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 924 Westwood Boulevar...

Multidisciplinary treatment with chemotherapy, targeted drug, and high-intensity focused ultrasound in advanced pancreatic carcinoma

Medical Oncology — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 07:00:27 +0100

This study reports a case of an advanced pancreatic cancer patient with liver metastasis who was treated with a combination of chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The abdominal pain was successfully relieved after the HIFU therapy. The patient had an 18-month survival with satisfactory quality of life. Large-scale randomized clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the long-term efficacy of HIFU treatment with or without chemotherapy and/or targeted drug therapy for pancreatic carcinoma. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-5DOI 10.1007/s12032-011-9892-1Authors Ying Yuan, Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, 2nd Hospital of Zhejiang University College of...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Maximizing outcomes in genitourinary cancers across the treatment continuum

BJU International — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:53:49 +0100

Key controversies concerning the management of genitourinary cancers across the treatment continua were discussed at the second annual Interactive Genitourinary Cancer Conference (IGUCC) held in February 2010 in Athens, Greece. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among western men and prevention strategies are needed. Trials evaluating 5α‐reductase inhibitors have reported beneficial and clinically meaningful results, but uptake remains low for primary prostate cancer prevention. Prostate cancer detection programmes are also important as curative treatments for advanced disease are unavailable. Two large landmark randomized controlled trials reported conflicting results concerning screening efficacy and uncovered high levels of over‐diagnosis and potential over‐treatme...

HIFU-Induced Cavitation and Heating in Ex Vivo Porcine Subcutaneous Fat

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: The present study is motivated by the fact that there are no published studies quantifying cavitation activity and heating induced by ultrasound in adipose tissue and that there are currently no reliable techniques for monitoring successful deposition of ultrasound energy in fat in real time. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) exposures were performed in excised porcine fat at four different frequencies (0.5, 1.1, 1.6 and 3.4 MHz) over a range of pressure amplitudes and exposure durations. The transmission losses arising from reflection at the skin interface and attenuation through skin and fat were quantified at all frequencies using an embedded needle hydrophone. A 15 MHz passive cavitation detector (PCD) coaxial to the HIFU transducer was used to capture acoustic emissio...

A Comparison of the Thermal-Dose Equation and the Intensity-Time Product, Itm, for Predicting Tissue Damage Thresholds

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, these two approaches were compared analytically by substituting a well-known soft-tissue solution for temperature vs. time into the thermal dose equation. From power law fits of I vs. t, m was found to fall between about 0.3 and 0.8. In terms of the intensity required for cell death for a given exposure time, the standard deviation of the error between the full thermal-dose formulation and the I tm = D prediction based upon the power-law fit was less than 5% for focal beam diameters up to 3 mm. Thus, for the practical range of HIFU parameters examined, the intensity-time product relationship is equivalent to the thermal dose formulation. (E-mail: gerald.harris@fda.hhs.gov) (Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology)

Prostate Segmentation in HIFU Therapy

IEE Transactions on Medical Imaging — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Prostate segmentation in 3-D transrectal ultrasound images is an important step in the definition of the intra-operative planning of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy. This paper presents two main approaches for the semi-automatic methods based on discrete dynamic contour and optimal surface detection. They operate in 3-D and require a minimal user interaction. They are considered both alone or sequentially combined, with and without postregularization, and applied on anisotropic and isotropic volumes. Their performance, using different metrics, has been evaluated on a set of 28 3-D images by comparison with two expert delineations. For the most efficient algorithm, the symmetric average surface distance was found to be 0.77 mm. (Source: IEE Transactions on Medical Imaging)

Augmentation of HIFU-Induced Heating With Fibers Embedded in a Phantom

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: The effect of fibers on the rate of heat deposition in the focal region of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) beams was investigated. Nylon, stainless steel and copper fibers of diameters 0.23–0.25, 0.33 and 0.51–0.53 mm embedded in a phantom were exposed to HIFU. The total energy deposited was quantified by measuring the volumes of the lesions formed. The average volumes of the lesions normalized to the average volume of control lesions were 1.19 ± 0.19, 1.43 ± 0.19 and 2.67 ± 0.21 for increasing nylon fiber diameter, indicating an augmented rate of heating. The maximum normalized volume of lesions at the metal fibers was 0.655. These results are consistent with the material properties, which suggest that the mechanism is increased acoustic absorption along with red...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

75 oncologic long-term results of high-intensity focussed ultrasound (hifu) treatment of localised prostate cancer in 310 patients

European Urology Supplements — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: European Urology Supplements)

76 oncological outcomes of high-intensity focused ultrasound for localized prostate cancer in 880 consecutive patients

European Urology Supplements — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: European Urology Supplements)

77 long term oncologic outcomes of patients treated with high intensity focused ultrasound for localized prostate cancer

European Urology Supplements — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: European Urology Supplements)

224 biochemical survival of 596 patients treated with salvage hifu after failed external beam radiation tracked with the @-registry and stratified by psa and pre treatment hormone usage

European Urology Supplements — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: European Urology Supplements)

281 hifu ablation of small renal masses: final results of phase ib trial

European Urology Supplements — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: European Urology Supplements)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

893 trifecta outcomes after whole-gland high intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of localised prostate cancer: a registry-based analysis

European Urology Supplements — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: European Urology Supplements)

971 health-related quality of life after salvage high intensity focused ultrasound treatment (hifu) for locally radiorecurrent prostate cancer

European Urology Supplements — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: European Urology Supplements)

Concurrent chemotherapy and pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for the treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer: initial experiences.

Korean J Radiol — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

This study was performed to evaluate the potential clinical value of concurrent chemotherapy and pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy (CCHT), as well as the safety of pulsed HIFU, for the treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer. PMID: 21430934 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Korean J Radiol)

Prostate Cancer Ablation with Transrectal High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: Assessment of Tissue Destruction with Contrast-enhanced US [Vascular and Interventional Radiology]

Continuous Publishing articles — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment of Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding Secondary to Uterine Myoma

Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

We describe the use of high-intensity focused ultrasound for acute vaginal bleeding secondary to uterine myoma in 2 young female patients. Both patients had episodes of abnormal vaginal bleeding with severe dysmenorrhea that was not efficiently controlled by medical treatment. After high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation, both vaginal bleeding control and symptom relief were achieved without postinterventional complications. The patients remained free of symptoms during 2 months of follow-up and regained normal menstruation after high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy. High-intensity focused ultrasound treatment is one of the least invasive options for dysfunctional vaginal bleeding and may be an effective and safe alternative to other procedures in women of reproductive age with ab...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

High intensity focused ultrasound ablation: A new therapeutic option for solid tumors

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Franco Orsi, Paolo Arnone, Wenzhi Chen, Lian ZhangJournal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2010 6(4):414-420Surgery has been the standard of care in selected cases with solid tumors. However, a majority of patients are unable to undergo surgical resection because of the tumor sites, advanced stages, or poor general condition. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a novel non-invasive technique that is capable of producing coagulative necrosis at a precise focal point within the body, without harming overlying and adjacent structures even within the path of the beam. Diagnostic ultrasound was the first imaging modality used for guiding HIFU ablation in the 1990s. Over the last decade, thousands of patients with uterine fibroids, liver cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, bone ...

Focal Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: A Phase I/II Trial

The Journal of Urology — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our results appear sufficiently promising to support the further evaluation of focal therapy as a strategy to decrease some of the harms and costs associated with standard whole gland treatments. (Source: The Journal of Urology)

Correlation of prostate‐specific antigen nadir and biochemical failure after high‐intensity focused ultrasound of localized prostate cancer based on the Stuttgart failure criteria – analysis from the @‐Registry

BJU International — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS• This multicentre analysis confirms that PSA nadir after HIFU predicts biochemical DFSR in a statistically significant manner. (Source: BJU International)

Sonablate® HIFU For Prostate Cancer In New Locations Outside The U.S.

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0100

USHIFU LLC (US HIFU), a world leader in minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies and manufacturer of the Sonablate® 500 medical device (Sonablate), announces that HIFU with the Sonablate (Sonablate HIFU) is available to prostate cancer patients for the first time in Brazil at Hospital Nossa Senhora das Gracas in Curitiba, capital city of the state of Parana in southern Brazil... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Spectrally selective pencil‐beam navigator for motion compensation of MR‐guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound therapy of abdominal organs

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

AbstractMR‐guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound (MR‐HIFU) is a noninvasive technique for depositing thermal energy in a controlled manner deep within the body. However, the MR‐HIFU treatment of mobile abdominal organs is problematic as motion‐related thermometry artifacts need to be corrected and the focal point position must be updated in order to follow the moving organ to avoid damaging healthy tissue. In this article, a fat‐selective pencil‐beam navigator is proposed for real‐time monitoring and compensation of through‐plane motion. As opposed to the conventional spectrally nonselective navigator, the fat‐selective navigator does not perturb the water–proton magnetization used for proton resonance frequency shift thermometry. This allows the proposed navigator...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Spectrally selective pencil-beam navigator for motion compensation of MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy of abdominal organs.

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Köhler MO, Denis de Senneville B, Quesson B, Moonen CT, Ries M MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is a noninvasive technique for depositing thermal energy in a controlled manner deep within the body. However, the MR-HIFU treatment of mobile abdominal organs is problematic as motion-related thermometry artifacts need to be corrected and the focal point position must be updated in order to follow the moving organ to avoid damaging healthy tissue. In this article, a fat-selective pencil-beam navigator is proposed for real-time monitoring and compensation of through-plane motion. As opposed to the conventional spectrally nonselective navigator, the fat-selective navigator does not perturb the water-proton magnetization used for proton resonance frequency shift ...

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with solid malignancies: evaluation of feasibility, local tumour response and clinical results

La Radiologia Medica — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:25:04 +0100

Conclusions According to our preliminary experience in a small number of patients, we conclude that HIFU ablation is a safe and feasible technique for locoregional treatment and is effective in pain control. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-15DOI 10.1007/s11547-011-0634-4Authors G. Orgera, Interventional Radiology Unit of European Institute of Oncology, 435 Via Ripamonti, 20141 Milan, ItalyL. Monfardini, Interventional Radiology Unit of European Institute of Oncology, 435 Via Ripamonti, 20141 Milan, ItalyP. Della Vigna, Interventional Radiology Unit of European Institute of Oncology, 435 Via Ripamonti, 20141 Milan, ItalyL. Zhang, Clinical Center for Tumor Therapy of 2nd Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, 400010 ChinaG. Bonomo, Interve...

EDAP Granted Special Temporary Reimbursement for Ablatherm-HIFU in France

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:15:00 +0100

LYON, France, Feb. 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced today it has been granted a special temporary reimbursement for Ablatherm-HIFU for the treatment of localized prostate cancer by the French National Authority for Health ("HAS"). The grant follows a comprehensive review of Ablatherm-HIFU clinical results. This step by HAS reflects a new reimbursement process dedicated to innovative therapies, which allows Ablatherm-HIFU technology to be granted temporary reimbursement while setting up a dedicated treatment registry for the next five years. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

HIFU as salvage first-line treatment for palpable, TRUS-evidenced, biopsy-proven locally recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: A pilot study.

Urologic Oncology — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS:: Salvage first-line HIFU for palpable, TRUS-evidenced, biopsy-proven local recurrence of CaP is a feasible, minimally invasive day-case procedure, with an acceptable morbidity profile. It seems to have a good cancer control in the short- and mid-term. Patients with lower pre-HIFU PSA level and favorable pathologic Gleason score presented better oncologic outcomes. A prospective randomized trial with an adequate recruitment and follow-up is necessary to confirm our preliminary oncologic results. PMID: 21292508 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Urologic Oncology)

Inducing occlusion effect in Y-shaped vessels using high-intensity focused ultrasound: finite element analysis and phantom validation.

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, a Y-shaped vessel model comprising common and tumour vessels and an indirect fabrication method are proposed. The physical properties of the fabricated vessel phantom are measured and compared with human tissue. Simulation is performed using finite element modelling according to the tissue parameter, perfusion rate of the tumour vessel and treatment parameters including power intensity and exposure duration. The phantom experiments are carried out with perfusion of egg white to validate the threshold time prediction obtained from the simulation results. Our findings reveal that the threshold time obtained from experiments is consistent with the simulated one. PMID: 21308574 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engin...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Visualization of HIFU-Induced Lesion Boundaries by Axial-Shear Strain Elastography: A Feasibility Study

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: In this paper, we report on a study that investigated the feasibility of reliably visualizing high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) lesion boundaries using axial-shear strain elastograms (ASSE). The HIFU-induced lesion cases used in the present work were selected from data acquired in a previous study. The samples consisted of excised canine livers with thermal lesions produced by a magnetic resonance–compatible HIFU system (GE Medical System, Milwaukee, WI, USA) and were cast in a gelatin block for the elastographic experiment. Both single and multiple HIFU-lesion samples were investigated. For each of the single-lesion samples, the lesion boundaries were determined independently from the axial strain elastogram (ASE) and ASSE at various iso-intensity contour thresholds (f...

High-intensity Focussed Ultrasound

Clinical Oncology — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

It is hard to imagine a more controversial therapy for localised prostate cancer than high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU). HIFU was introduced in November 2004 to an unsuspecting UK public (this included most urologists and oncologists). It was front-page news in a Saturday broadsheet, which described it as a non-invasive, complication-free treatment, all done in 4h with no threat to men’s virility. It certainly seemed to tick all the boxes: day case, scar free, potency preserving, with a low risk of incontinence and comparable short-term outcome data to more invasive treatment options. The trials in the UK had not even started, but it was clearly an attractive treatment option, combined with impressive image guidance technology and in one version a robotic control arm to boot. In ...

Therapeutic ultrasound an overview.

Ultrasonics Sonochemistry — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mason TJ Therapeutic ultrasound is defined as the use of ultrasound for the treatment of diseased or injured organs or bodily structures and is quite distinct from diagnostic ultrasound. There were many early attempts in the past to use ultrasound in therapy for a variety of applications and while some of these have not been pursued others have led on to clinical applications which are now used routinely. Such progress has been made possible by a number of factors including advances in transducer design, more accurate measurement and calibration of acoustic power and careful experiments to determine the precise nature of chemical processes taking place during and following the exposure of tissue to ultrasound. Major advances have been made in some fields where ultrasound is us...

Salvage Radical Prostatectomy Following Primary High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

The Journal of Urology — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Radical prostatectomy as salvage is feasible for men in whom high intensity focused ultrasound failed, but with a higher morbidity than for primary surgery. Pathology results are alarming given the number of cases with extraprostatic extension yet early followup data suggest acceptable oncologic control. These results should be factored in when counseling men who wish to undergo primary high intensity focused ultrasound. (Source: The Journal of Urology)

Editorial Comment

The Journal of Urology — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

This report of 15 cases of salvage radical prostatectomy following failed primary HIFU therapy is noteworthy for 2 reasons. Although the European Association of Urology guidelines describe HIFU as experimental and the technology is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, considerable numbers of patients are still being offered this treatment. Thus, there will be a cohort of patients in whom the treatment fails and for whom salvage treatment will be required. Lawrentschuk et al describe their experience treating these patients and the associated morbidity of the salvage procedure, and we can learn from their experience as we encounter these patients in our own practices (reference 27 in article). (Source: The Journal of Urology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

The Current Status of Cryotherapy and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Treatment of Low-Grade Prostate Cancer.

Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Siomos VJ, Barqawi AB As a result of widespread serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and prostate cancer awareness, the detection of low-grade prostate cancer has increased. At the moment, it is unclear how to treat patients in this population. Thus, we focused on reviewing therapies for patients in this low risk group. The purpose of this review paper is to present the status of emerging therapies of cryotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with low risk disease. Based on our review of the literature, there are several small-scale studies of these two therapies that have revealed favorable outcomes, but with complications of urinary incontinence and impotence. With further research, these therapies may develop into good alternatives for ...

HIFU for Prostate Cancer: New Study Results Disappointing

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:38:14 +0100

French researchers report poor survival rates for patients with localized prostate cancer treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) delivered by second-generation Ablatherm equipment. Medscape Urology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is not indicated for treatment of primary bone sarcomas

Cancer — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Surgery is the method of choice for local treatment of osteosarcoma. Experimental approaches should not be considered “safe” unless they are proven to produce equivalent local control rates. (Source: Cancer)

Reply to high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is not indicated for treatment of primary bone sarcomas

Cancer — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Cancer)

Inhibition of glioma growth by microbubble activation in a subcutaneous model using low duty cycle ultrasound without significant heating.

Journal of Neurosurgery — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions In a subcutaneous C6 glioma model, MB destruction with low-duty cycle 1-MHz ultrasound can be used to markedly inhibit growth, without substantial tumor tissue heating. These results may have a bearing on the development of transcranial high-intensity focused ultrasound treatments for brain tumors that are not amenable to thermal ablation. PMID: 21214331 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Neurosurgery)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Rectourethral Fistula After High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy for Prostate Cancer and Its Surgical Management

Urology — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Objectives: To report 8 cases of rectourethral fistula (RUF) in patients treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for either localized or locally recurrent prostate cancer (PCa).Methods: A retrospective analysis of 363 consecutive patients with PCa who underwent HIFU from 2002 to 2010 was done. One HIFU session was performed in 341 patients with localized PCa. Two HIFU sessions were performed in 22 patients. Salvage HIFU was performed in 22 patients after radiotherapy.Results: A total of 8 patients (2.2%) developed RUF. Their mean age was 69.38 ± 6.19 years (range 61-78). The mean follow-up was 50.45 ± 25.07 months (range 25 to 84). The mean interval between HIFU and the development of RUF was 3 ± 0.93 weeks (range 1-4). RUF occurred within 4 weeks after 1 HIFU session (n =...

Real-Time Monitoring of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Lesion Formation Using Acousto-Optic Sensing

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

This study demonstrates AO sensing can identify the onset and growth of lesion formation in real time and, when used as feedback to guide exposures, results in more predictable lesion formation. (E-mails: laipuxiang@gmail.com or ronroy@bu.edu) (Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology)

Noninvasive Treatment of Deep Venous Thrombosis Using Pulsed Ultrasound Cavitation Therapy (Histotripsy) in a Porcine Model

Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology : JVIR — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The results indicate histotripsy has potential for development as a noninvasive treatment for deep vein thrombosis. (Source: Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology : JVIR)

A novel approach to identify non-palpable breast lesions combining fluorescent liposomes and magnetic resonance-guided high intensity focused ultrasound-triggered release.

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, proof-of-concept concerning fluorescent FCL for MR-HIFU-triggered release and tumor demarcation of non-palpable breast lesions is presented. Ex vivo experiments in human blood and porcine muscle tissue showed increased label release from the liposomes, clear fluorescence enhancement and diffusion of the released compound after heating to 60°C. Next, fluorescein release of FCL was observed after MR-HIFU-mediated mild hyperthermia (42°C) and ablation temperature (60°C) for a short period (30s), which is in line with the clinically relevant MR-HIFU treatment parameters. These results indicate the potential of the FCL as a tool to improve tumor demarcation in patients by MR-HIFU-triggered release. Therefore, this method may offer a new tool for efficient surgical resection of...