The Hindu Business Line : Ultrasound procedure to treat prostate cancer soon

In the fight to overcome cancer of the prostate in the ageing male, a treatment procedure based on the use of ultrasound waves would be available in India soon.

A high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) centre, the first in the country, is being established at the Hyderabad-based, Pramila Hospitals.

robotic technology

The robotic technology-based medical device from Focus Surgery Inc called ‘Sonablate’, would ensure a bloodless, non-surgical, radiation-free procedure to tackle prostate cancer, said Dr G. Ramesh Ramayya, Director and Chief Urologist Surgeon of the Hospitals.

The device, first helps obtain real-time images of the prostate and surrounding areas. This would enable the doctor to plan where to deliver the non-ionising ultrasound beam. The inbuilt software allows the doctor to pin-point the treatment areas and completely destroy the entire prostate gland.

The procedure called HIFU, is repeatable if necessary and does not damage healthy tissue because ultrasound waves are non-ionising (less likely to cause harm), unlike radiation, which carries that risk, Dr Ramesh explained to Business Line.

The HIFU procedure is used in the treatment of prostate cancer in Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Bahamas, the Dominican Republic. However, in the US, it is undergoing trials and is yet to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

In India, medical devices which have a global quality certification are permitted for use and the Pramila Hospitals, which is focussed on urology-related problems, has established the HIFU Centre, with trained doctors and technicians, Dr Ramesh said.

Problems of the prostate are on the increase, especially among the male population above 50 years. Currently, there are four options to tackle the degenerative cancer — Radical Prostatectomy(surgical removal of prostate); Brachytherapy (use implants of radiation); external beam radiation and minimally invasive procedure to destroy cancerous cells.

Side effects

The side effects of these treatment methods such as incontinence (uncontrolled urine flow) and impotence are also minimised in HIFU, he claimed. The hospital has invested a couple of crores on the facility and the treatment would cost a few lakhs, he added.

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