What is HIFU treatment?
High-intensity concentrated ultrasound treatment in other words HIFU treatment is an advanced method in the medical field. HIFU treatment utilizes concentrated ultrasonic waves to focus on a specific tissue of the human body for the removal or treatment of that targeted tissue cells. This is unlike traditional medical methods which require surgery and incisions.
There are two types of HIFU treatment:
1. Ablative HIFU
High-intensity ultrasound waves are used to focus on a specific tissue of the body to eliminate malignant cells without harming the surrounding tissue cells. For example: Removal of Cancerous cells.
2. Non-Ablative HIFU
In non-ablative HIFU treatment, the purpose is to disrupt the neuronal circuits rather than eliminate them. This method is used to cure tremors.
HIFU treatment has spread across many medical applications including oncology for tumors, gynecology for uterine fibroids, and alleviating pain for chronic illnesses.
Basic Principles of HIFU treatment technology:
In HIFU treatment, a device called a transducer is used to produce high-intensity ultrasonic waves. Then this device is adjusted and arranged in a way to focus these high-energy waves to converge at a specific target. Heat is produced at the converging point of these ultrasound waves. This heating is used to remove or treatment of the targeted tissue cells.
Another angle to look at HIFU treatment is:
Ultrasound waves can pass through body tissues. In HIFU treatment, waves pass through tissues until reaching their converging point and get absorbed by the targeting tissue which as a result causes the treatment or removal of the tissue cell.
The capacity to focus these ultrasound waves on a targeted location enables healthcare experts to target any tissue cell throughout the body precisely. This treatment has proven to be extraordinary in treating a wide range of disorders whether it is ablative or non-ablative.
Here’s the list of different medical disorders where HIFU treatment has proven to be extraordinary:
Cancer treatments:
a. Prostate Cancer
b. Liver cancer
c. Breast Cancer
Neurological disorders:
a. Essential Tremors
Gynecological Conditions:
a. Uterine Fibroids
b. Adenomyosis
HIFU treatment is also used to cure face rejuvenation and chronic pain relief.
Here’s an overview of the HIFU treatment procedure:
Before the HIFU procedure:
a. Medical Evaluation
Healthcare experts conduct imaging exams and other diagnostic tests to make sure that the patient is suitable for HIFU treatment.
b. Discussion with Healthcare Experts
Patients can discuss the expected outcome or other queries regarding the treatment.
c. Fasting and Prescription Adjustments:
Patients may be required to fast for a specific duration before the procedure depending upon the nature of HIFU therapy. Prescriptions can also be changed by the healthcare experts.
During the HIFU procedure:
a. Positioning:
Patients are told to adopt a specific position for specified therapy areas. This can be lying on the treatment table while maintaining the specific positioning.
b. Ultrasound Imaging:
Healthcare experts use real-time ultrasonography imaging to guide the HIFU treatment process. This helps experts visualize the specified targeted tissues and make sure that the ultrasound waves are hitting the targeted tissue cells precisely.
c. HIFU administration:
HIFU transducer is applied to the skin to emit concentrated ultrasound waves to the specified area. These high energy waves released cause thermal effects on the converging point, which either mitigate or treat tissues.
d. Patient comfort:
Different measures are attempted to reduce discomfort as comfort is the top priority for the experts. Anesthesia or pain relief can be given to the patient if needed.
After the HIFU procedure:
a. Immediate Recovery:
One of the main advantages of HIFU treatment is its short recovery time. Patients usually have little to no downtime and can return to their normal life after the treatment.
b. Monitoring:
Patients are watched for short intervals to prevent early problems. Potential side effects and other critical signs are carefully monitored. Imaging examinations or further follow-ups may be taken by the experts to check the treated area.
Patients may experience temporary redness, soreness, or stiffness in the treated area, which often resolves on their own. Some patients can go through slower improvement in their symptoms depending upon the nature of HIFU treatment.
Advantages of HIFU treatment:
1. Non-Invasiveness
2. Reduced Recovery Time
3. Targeted Treatment
4. Minimized Side Effects
5. Versatility in Applications
Disadvantages of HIFU treatment:
1. Limited Depth Penetration:
HIFU treatment may be limited in cases that require deep penetration. Ultrasound waves may face difficulty in reaching deep-located tissues of the body.
2. Operator Dependence:
The successful HIFU treatment also depends on the professional healthcare’s ability and experience.
3. Limited Availability:
HIFU treatment technology may not be available in some countries making it inaccessible for some patient populations.
4. Effectiveness in certain conditions:
Where HIFU treatment has achieved great accomplishments in various medical fields, its effectiveness in some cases may warrant additional exploration.
5. Patient’s Selection Criteria:
Not all patients may be suitable candidates for HIFU treatment. Eligibility depends on different factors like the patient’s health, the dimension and position of the targeted tissues, and the nature of the medical condition.