Turning up the Power: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the Treatment of Cancer

Diagnostic ultrasound is generally considered to provide images without causing any significant biological effects in the tissues being visualized. If, however, the energy used is increased sufficiently, ultrasound can kill cells instantaneously, and causes thermal necrosis. High intensity focused ultrasound beams are being used to destroy masses in deep-seated tissues without damage to the intervening, overlying structures. This new technique is being investigated for use in the treatment of cancer of the prostate, liver, kidney, breast and bone.