Treatment principle

The Ablatherm HIFU treatment principle is a simple one. The prostate is a small gland (on average 30 cm³) located along the path of the urethra, at the bottom of the bladder. Its anatomical position places it in contact with the front part of the rectal wall, which is why the prostate can be easily palpated with a finger when a doctor performs a digital rectal examination. This anatomical position is advantageous as it makes the prostate easily accessible for focused ultrasound treatment. During treatment, the probe that generates the ultrasound is inserted into the rectum and positioned opposite the prostate. The treatment is then performed automatically. During treatment, the probe makes very small movements, which are hardly noticeable to the patient under local anaesthetic. This ensures that the entire prostate is treated by the focused ultrasonic beam over the course of the procedure, which takes 1½ to 2½ hours depending on the volume of the patient's prostate.

By focusing the ultrasound on the prostate tissue, and in particular the cancerous tissue, the cancerous tissue is destroyed by coagulation necrosis (intense heat). The necrotic tissue is eliminated progressively by the body, and will eventually be replaced with scar tissue. The prostate will shrink progressively and reduce in volume a process that does not affect urination.