The aim of this manuscript is to provide insights into the theoretical and practical foundations of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a novel minimally invasive treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We therefore briefly review the physics of HIFU, the results of experimental studies, the histological impact of HIFU on the human prostate and clinical data so far available with this new technique.
FryW.J., BarnardJ.W., FryF.J., BrennanJ.F.: Ultrasonically produced localized selective lesions in the central nervous system. Am. J. Phy. Med., 34: 413–423, 1955.
2.
YangR., ReillyC.R., RescorlaF.J., SanghviN.T., FryF.J., FranklinT.D., GrosfeldJ.L.: Effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of experimental neuroblastoma. J. Pediatr. Surg., 27: 246–251, 1992.
3.
FosterR.S., BihrleR., SanghviN., FryF., KopeckyK., ReganJ., EbleJ., HennigeC., HennigeL. V., DonohueJ.P.: Production of prostatic lesions in canines using transrectally administered high-intensity focused ultrasound. Eur. Urol., 23: 330–336, 1993.
4.
VallancienG., HarouniM., VeillonB., MombertA., PrapotnichD., BrissetJ.M., BougaranJ.: Focused extracorporeal pyrotherapy: feasibility study in man. J. Endourol., 6: 173–181, 1992.
5.
MadersbacherS., KratzikC., SusaniM., MarbergerM.: Tissue ablation in human prostate with high intensity focused ultrasound and its clinical application for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. J. Urol. (in press).
6.
BihrleR., FosterR.S., SanghviN.T., DonohueJ.P., HoodP.J.: High intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of BPH: Early U.S. clinical experience. J. Urol., 151: 1271–1275, 1994.
7.
SusaniM., MadersbacherS., KratzikC., VingersL., MarbergerM.: Morphology of tissue destruction induced by focused ultrasound. Eur. Urol., 23(suppl. 1): 34–38, 1993.
8.
EbertT., MillerS., Schmitz-DraegerB., AckermannR.: High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. J. Urol., 151(suppl.): 399A, 1994.
9.
MadersbacherS., KratzikC., MarbergerM.: Transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound for benign prostatic hyperplasia: one year follow-up data. J. Urol., 151(suppl.), 399A, 1994.
10.
OgdenC.W., ReddyP., JohnsonH., RamsayJ.W.A., CarterS.S.C.: Sham versus transurethral microwave thermotherapy in patients with symptoms of benign prostatic bladder outflow obstruction. The Lancet, 341: 14–17, 1993.
11.
BoonT.A., LeporH., MuschterR.D., McCulloughL.: Laser treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) workshop. In: Benign prostatic hyperplasia: recent progress in clinical research and practice; KurthK., NewlingD.W.W. (eds.), Wiley-Liss, Inc.New York, pp. 534, 1994.
12.
LaducR., BloemF.A.G., DebruyneF.M.J.: Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. EBU update series, 1: 42–47, 1992.
13.
CostelloA.J., BowsherW.G., BoltonD.M., BraslisK.G., BurtJ.: Laser ablation of the prostate in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Br. J. Urol., 69: 603–607, 1992.
14.
MontorsiF., GalliL., GuazzoniG., ColomboR., BulfamanteG., BarbieriL., MatozzoV., GrazioliV., RigattiP.: Transrectal microwave hyperthermia for benign prostatic hyperplasia: long term clinical, pathological and ultrastructural patterns. J. Urol., 148: 321–325, 1992.
15.
MarbergerM., SusaniM., MadersbacherS., KratzikC., SimakR.: Effect of high intensity focused ultrasound of human prostate cancer. J. Urol., 151(suppl.), 436A, 1994.
16.
ChapelonJ.Y., MargonariJ., TheillereY., GorryF., VernierF., BlancE., GeletA.: Effects of high-energy focused ultrasound on kidney tissue in the rat and the dog. Eur. Urol., 22: 147–152, 1992.
17.
YangR., ReillyC.R., RescorlaF.J., FaughtP.R., SanghviN.T., FryF.J., FranklinT.D., LumengL., GrosfeldJ.L.: High-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of experimental liver cancer. Arch. Surg., 126: 1002–1010, 1991.
18.
MooreW.E., LopezR., MatthewsD.E., SheetsP.W., EtchisonM.R., HurwitzA.S., ChalianA.A., FryF.J., VaneD.W., GrosfeldJ.L.: Evaluation of high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound irradiation in the treatment of experimental hepatoma. J. Pediatr. Surg.:24: 30–33, 1989.
19.
YangR., SanghviN.T., RescorlaF.J., KopeckyK.K., GrosfeldJ.L.: Liver cancer ablation with extracorporeal high-intensity focused ultrasound. Eur. Urol., 23(suppl.): 17–22, 1993.
20.
YangR., GriffithS.L., RescorlaF.J., GallianiC.A., EhrmannK.O., FryF.J., WesslingS.M., GrosfeldJ.L.: Feasibility of using high intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment unresectable retroperitoneal malignancies. J. Ultrasound Med., 11: S37, 1992.
