High-intensity focused ultrasound

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) offers a noninvasive approach for treating some cancerous tumors, benign growths, and neurological conditions without making an incision or using radiation. This technique uses carefully targeted ultrasound waves to heat and destroy abnormal tissue, while leaving nearby healthy tissue largely unharmed. HIFU targets only the problem area, which generally makes it a safer option with a much faster recovery than traditional surgery.

HIFU treatment is performed by highly trained specialists like urologists, neurosurgeons, and other experts, depending on the condition being treated. At Penn Medicine, care teams work together to determine whether high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment is right for you. Penn Urology was the first program in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey region to offer HIFU ultrasound for prostate cancer, and it’s now used for many other conditions.

The HIFU procedure works much like using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight. If you hold the glass over a leaf, the sun’s rays are concentrated into one tiny, hot spot that creates a hole in the leaf, while the air around it stays cool. HIFU ultrasound does the same thing with powerful sound waves focused on a small area of diseased tissue. These sound waves pass safely through the body until they meet at the target. Once focused, they create heat that destroys the abnormal cells.

To make sure every beam hits the right mark, providers use real-time imaging like conventional ultrasound or MRI scans. This allows them to see the exact location of the tumor or targeted area and adjust treatment as needed.

HIFU therapy isn’t the right fit for everyone. If a cancer is too advanced or the tumor is hard to see on imaging, other treatments may be a better option. The experts at Penn Medicine carefully review your health, imaging results, and treatment goals to help determine whether this focal therapy is the right path forward.

While this technology was first used as high-intensity ultrasound for prostate cancer, it may benefit people with other conditions as well. HIFU treatment is now used for certain kidney tumors, liver tumors, and pancreatic tumors, and to relieve pain when cancer has spread to the bones (bone metastases). It can also treat noncancerous growths like uterine fibroids and breast lumps. Beyond tumors, focused ultrasound for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor may help some people improve movement and quality of life.

How HIFU is delivered depends on what’s being treated. Most people are treated as outpatients, meaning you go home the same day. Depending on the procedure, you may need temporary supports, like a urinary catheter for a few days after prostate treatment. Your care team will explain each step ahead of time and help you prepare, including whether you’ll need sedation, anesthesia, or simple pre-procedure steps like bowel preparation.

One of the biggest benefits of this technology is how quickly you can get back to your normal routine. Many people return to normal activities within a day, though your provider may recommend short-term limits based on your treatment type. Side effects are often mild, but your care team will review what to watch for and when to call.