High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a medical treatment that uses sound waves to help with certain health problems, like tumors. It is a treatment that doesn’t need surgery, which means it’s less harmful to the body.
Doctors use regular ultrasound scans to see inside the body.
Ultrasound works by using sound waves that are too high-pitched for humans to hear. These waves create live images of parts of the body, like organs or soft tissues.
HIFU is different because it doesn’t create images.
Instead, it uses very strong and focused sound waves that target specific areas of the body. These waves are powerful enough to change or destroy the tissue they hit.
It’s like using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on a small spot.
In Hifu Treatment in Singapore, many sound beams are directed to concentrate on a particular area. The energy from these beams heats up the tissue, and the heat can destroy it.
The sound waves can go through layers of tissue, like skin, without causing damage.
They only affect the area they are meant to treat.
Doctors often use either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or regular ultrasound to help guide, check, and monitor the HIFU treatment.
A common type of HIFU is called magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS).
What Types Of Conditions Can HIFU Treat?
Doctors use HIFU for a wide range of health issues.
One common use is treating both cancerous (malignant) and non-cancerous (benign) tumors in areas like:
– Bones
– Brain
– Breast
– Connective tissues
– Esophagus
– Kidney
– Liver
– Pancreas
– Prostate
They also use HIFU for other problems, like:
– Uterine fibroids
– Tremors that can’t be controlled with medicine
– Tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease
– Pain from bone growths that have spread
– Thyroid nodules
Researchers are also studying if HIFU can help with other conditions in the future.
Why Is HIFU Used?
Doctors use HIFU because it is a non-surgical treatment, which makes it safer than many other options.
However, HIFU isn’t suitable for every type of tumor.
For example, with prostate cancer, it works best for early-stage, low-risk cancer that is only in the prostate and can be seen clearly on an MRI or ultrasound scan. If the cancer has spread or the tumor is hard to see on imaging, HIFU may not be the right choice.