Ablation of benign prostatic hyperplasia using microbubble-mediated ultrasound cavitation.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a world-wide common disease in elderly male patients. A number of invasive physiotherapies have been used to replace prostatectomy. In this article we report our hypothesis of using microbubbles-mediated ultrasound cavitation effects to ablate prostatic tissues. Microbubble ultrasound contrast agent is widely used contrast media in ultrasonography, yet it is also found to act as cavitation nuclei or enhancer. Once excited by a high peak pressure ultrasound pulse, the mechanical effects, like shock wave and microstream, released from cavitation could produce a series of bioeffects, contributing to sonoporation, microvascular rupture and hematoma. BPH is known to have hyperplastic neovasculature and this make it possible to be disrupted by the physical effects of cavitation under existing microbubbles in circulation. Mechanical ablation of prostatic capillary or small vessels could result in pathological alterations such as thrombosis, micro-circulation blockage, prostatic necrosis and atrophia. Thereupon it could effectively treat BPH by nontraumatic ways.
Li
Tao
T
Department of Ultrasound, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, PR China. taoli39@163.com
Liu
Zheng
Z
D000368:Aged; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D014465:Ultrasonics
D003287:Contrast Media