Transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound devices: a critical appraisal of the available evidence.
Developments in the technology applied to the field of minimally invasive surgery have led to the exploration of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Extensive research and continuous evolution have resulted in two commercially available HIFU devices: the Ablatherm and the Sonablate500. These devices are conceptually the same; however, specific technical differences exist. This paper reviews the clinical outcomes obtained with these devices, evaluates the quality of the evidence from the individual trials, and provides the results of a head-to-head comparison in terms of oncologic outcomes and complication rates.
Tsakiris
Peter
P
Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. tsakiris@in.gr
Thüroff
Stefan
S
de la Rosette
Jean
J
Chaussy
Christian
C
D019160:Endosonography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012007:Rectum