A Review On High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)

Abstract

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is an innovative and non- invasive therapeutic technique that uses focused ultrasound waves to thermally ablate a portion of tissue, meaning the tissue is destroyed using intense heat produced by sound waves. The intense heat causes tissue coagulation, necrosis, cavitation and heat shock in the cells. HIFU is also termed as focused ultrasound surgery (FUS). This technique aims to retain good quality life of the patient as it serves to treat neuropathic pain, uterine fibroids, prostate cancer, and tumors of bone, breast, liver, kidney, and testes. Also, research studies are being performed to temporarily open the blood brain barrier (BBB) through HIFU to allow drug absorption into blood. HIFU uses an ultrasound transducer similar to the ones used in diagnostic purpose but with high energy and an acoustic lens in order to focus sound waves to a particular point and thus raising the temperature to 70-80° Celsius. The interventional radiologist may use diagnostic Sonography with focused ultrasound (USgFUS or USgHIFU) or magnetic resonance guidance with focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). Aim is to introduce to a new innovative, non-invasive therapeutic technique in the field of radiology. The interventional radiologist can prefer USgFUS or MRgFUS. MRgFUS is being preferred the most as it monitors the degree of heating in real time. The transducer similar to the diagnostic one is used in USgFUS whereas in MRgFUS transducer is fitted in the MRI table. HIFU transducer is a cup shaped transducer fitted with an acoustic lens in order to obtain the converging beam of sound waves to focus a particular targeted tissue. The temperature is raised to 70-80° Celsius and maximum to 150°Celsius. HIFU is being considered the hybrid innovation in the radiology field which is serving as the harmless and incision less therapeutic technique in the treatment of neuropathic pain, uterine fibroids and different types of cancer. HIFU is non-invasive therapeutic technique which is replacing the surgical treatments. It has less risk, provides faster recovery time to patients by giving precise treatment using non ionizing radiation. It confirms the progress of radiology department in the field of medical science.