An MRI-guided ultrasound technique promises to reduce trauma for cancer patients, particularly breast and pancreas. In the short-term, they can expect some soothing in the form of reduction of excruciating pain in a condition called bone metastasis. This condition indicates spread of cancer, mostly lung, breast and prostrate, to bones.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-guided High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound (HIFU), a procedure launched by Philips, offers promise in tackling cancer, some forms to begin with. HIFU tracks the tumours (benign for now) using MRI images and destroys them using focussed rays.

Though targeted at patients suffering with nagging uterine fibroids, this method might be of use in reducing trauma for cancer patients, Mr Krishna Kumar, Vice-President and Business Head of Philips Healthcare, said.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, he said multi-location trials to test its use one type of cancer were at advanced levels. This could be of immense benefit to India that reported high number of breast cancers.

He was here to mark the first installation of HIFU-system in the Apollo Hospitals here.

“Uterine fibroids are the commonest tumours that affect every other woman. At least 40 per cent of women in the reproductive age group suffer from this, causing pain, heavy menstrual bleeding,” Ms Sangita Reddy, Executive Director of Apollo Hospitals, said.

Apollo would install HIFU machinery in six more hospitals in the network through a revenue-sharing agreement with the electronics major. “We spent Rs 5.5 crore on this excluding the MRI machine,” Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman of the group, said.

The procedure costs about Rs 70-80,000.

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