Prostate Cancer Slideshow Pictures Medical Illustrations of the Prostate Image Collection Screening Tests Every Man Needs Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Kevin C. Zorn, MD, FRCSC, FACS

Coauthor:

Gagan Gautam, MD, MCh (Urology)

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Other Therapy

Cryotherapy: This technique involves inserting a probe through a small skin incision and freezing areas of cancer in the prostate.

• This therapy is reserved for cancer localized within the prostate as well as for men who are unable to withstand the conventional therapies such as surgery or radiation.



• The probe is guided to areas of cancer by using TRUS. Cancerous tissue appears on the ultrasound and allows the surgeon to monitor therapy and limit damage to normal prostate tissue.



• There are several advantages to using this procedure over surgery and radiation therapy. There is less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery times, and less pain than with conventional surgery.



• The long-term effectiveness of this procedure is unknown because it is a newer treatment.

HIFU

• HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) was first developed as a treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and now is also being used as a procedure for the killing of prostate cancer cells. This procedure utilizes transrectal ultrasound that is highly focused into a small area, creating intense heat of 80 C-100 C, which is lethal to prostate cancer tissue.



• The published clinical experience with HIFU for this application is limited and the procedure is not yet approved by the FDA for use in the United States.