The new method is hailed as a promising alternative to treatments involving surgery and radiation. With excellent results.
A medical team has developed a method called TULSA. Ultrasound waves, ultrasound pulses targeted to eliminate prostate cancer entirely and successfully in 65% of cases with few side effects.
The new method, detailed in a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), could be a promising alternative to surgery. The hopes are very encouraging.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, second only to skin cancer. It is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. This is why science studies new, revolutionary diagnostic methods and care.
Traditional treatments involving surgery and radiation have proven difficult due to their heavy side effects. Strong risks of impotence, incontinence or intestinal dysfunction.
Ultrasonic revolution
This new technique avoids the major risks associated with prostate cancer treatment by relying on a rod-shaped device. It is inserted into the urethra and uses MRI to focus precise ultrasound pulses on tumors, heating and destroying them. The surrounding areas remain completely intact.
The minimally invasive method, called transurethral ultrasound ablation guided by magnetic resonance (TULSA). It has been used on 115 men suffering from localized prostate cancer.
According to the researchers, in 80% of cases, most of the signs of prostate cancer were eliminated. All signs disappeared in 65% of cases after one year.
Overall, no intestinal complications were reported. Most men saw reduced blood antigen markers for prostate cancer.
Steven Raman, study co-author and professor of radiology and urology at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), explained:
“It is an outpatient procedure with minimal recovery times. We have found excellent results in patients, with a dramatic reduction of over 90% in prostate volume and low impotence rates almost without incontinence."
There are two truly unique things about this TULSA system. First, you can control much more precisely where you will treat, preserving continence and sexual function.
Secondly, you can do this for both widespread and localized prostate cancer and benign diseases, including benign hyperplasia. "
TULSA is already approved for clinical use in Europe and has the US Food and Drug Administration 510 (k) clearance for nationwide prostate tissue ablation.
The researchers hope that the follow-up studies support the initial results of the clinical trials.
