High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for Prostate Cancer treatment in the Best Hospitals in the World
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Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology offers the full range of services in the areas of its specialization. Men and boys with diseases of the reproductive system can be diagnosed and treated in the medical facility. Doctors also treat infertility and erectile dysfunction. Medical care is provided to men and women with diseases of the urinary system, namely kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The department is certified as the Prostate Cancer Center by the German Cancer Society (DKG), which indicates the excellent quality of the services provided in this area. The department's urologists have a perfect command of the innovative treatment methods, including holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), photodynamic therapy, and da Vinci robot-assisted surgery. The department employs comprehensively trained and experienced doctors who apply advanced medical achievements in their practice. Each patient is provided with an individual approach, considering their specific needs and wishes.
Department of Urology
The Department of Urology offers the full range of diagnostics and treatment in this medical field. The department's doctors have excellent qualifications in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract and reproductive organs in men. Of particular interest is the treatment of malignant urological neoplasms, which include prostate cancer, testicular cancer, kidney and bladder cancer. The department has in its arsenal many effective conservative and surgical treatment techniques, which can fully restore men's health.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology offers the full range of services for the diagnostics and treatment of urologic diseases in men and children, as well as urogynecologic disorders in women. One of the priority focuses of the department's specialization is the restoration of potency in men. According to the international ratings, this is the best hospital in Europe, where a team of urologists effectively treats erectile dysfunction. Another key focus of the department's work is on the treatment of benign and malignant prostate diseases. To treat prostate cancer, the doctors perform low-traumatic robot-assisted interventions using the very latest da Vinci® XI HD surgical system. The therapeutic offer is complemented by the treatment of pathologies of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, testicles and penis. In the field of pediatric urology, the correction of congenital malformations of the reproductive system in boys is of particular interest. The department's doctors are professionals in their area of specialization, so the patients can be sure that they will certainly find an effective solution even for the most complex clinical case.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology is one of the best medical facilities in Germany for prostate cancer treatment! The department provides the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for men and women with diseases of the urinary system, representatives of the stronger sex with pathologies of the reproductive system, and children with congenital and acquired urological conditions. The department specializes in conservative and surgical treatment of malignant tumors of the male genitals, kidneys, and bladder. The specialists at the healthcare facility are proud of the status as a Training Center for Robotic Urological Surgery with certification by the European Association of Urology (EAU). Robotic surgery with the da Vinci system is an integral part of the daily clinical practice of the department's doctors, and the presence here of one of the best da Vinci surgery training centers in Europe testifies to the advanced experience of the department's medical team in this field. Together with the Department of Nephrology and the Department of Surgery, it is part of the Kidney Transplant Center, the largest of its kind in Germany. The unique feature of this center is that almost all operations to remove a kidney from a living donor are minimally invasive procedures. Men with andrological problems can also be treated in the department. Special attention is given to the treatment of erectile dysfunction, infertility, and hormonal imbalances.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology ranks among the top German departments specializing in prostate cancer treatment! The department offers the full range of diagnostics and treatment of the urinary system in men and boys. The department has a long history, rich traditions, and is also a recognized center of excellence in the treatment of all urological diseases. The department specializes in the treatment of malignant urological diseases, reconstructive surgery, pediatric urology, treatment of urinary tract dysfunction and kidney stone disease.
Department of Urology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Urology ranks among the top German medical institutions specializing in prostate cancer treatment! The department offers the full range of high-precision diagnostic studies and effective therapeutic options for men with diseases of the genitourinary system. The doctors of the department specialize in the treatment of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, kidney, testicular cancers, urolithiasis, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. There are also excellent qualifications in the field of reconstructive urology.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology is one of the best medical facilities in Germany for prostate cancer treatment! The department provides effective treatment for the entire spectrum of diseases of the urinary tract and male reproductive system in accordance with the highest medical standards. Patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, can receive medical care. The department's primary specialty is reconstructive urology: surgeons perform reconstructive urethral plastic surgery, artificial sphincter and synthetic tape (sling) implantation surgery to treat urinary incontinence, reconstructive penile plastic surgery to correct congenital and acquired defects, and penile prosthetics for erectile dysfunction. An equally important focus of the urology team is the surgical treatment of oncologic diseases such as bladder, kidney, adrenal, prostate, testicular, and penile cancer. Almost all surgical procedures to treat cancer are performed using minimally traumatic microsurgical and robot-assisted techniques – the department's urologists have the innovative da Vinci system at their disposal. Tumor drug therapy is provided in cooperation with specialists at the Cancer Center Hamburg. The department is a certified Urologic Oncology Center of the German Cancer Society (DKG). It is also one of the leading centers for pediatric urology in Germany and has the status of a certified training center for physicians of the European Society for Pediatric Urology (ESUP).
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology provides high-precision diagnostics and effective treatment of the full range of diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract, bladder, prostate, testicles and their appendages, vas deferens and penis. The treatment of urologic cancers is of particular interest. The focus of pediatric urologists is on young patients with congenital and acquired malformations of the genitourinary system. The department has its in-house advanced operating rooms, an X-ray unit, and two stations with 57 beds. The high quality of medical care is confirmed by many prestigious certificates, including the DEKRA certificate and the certificate of the European Board of Urology. As one of the best urologic facilities in Germany and a leading urology clinic in Munich, the department has been offering patients the daVinci robot-assisted surgery since 2009, which has many advantages for patients: minimal pain, speedy recovery, the highest level of precision compared to conventional surgical interventions.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in prostate cancer treatment! The department offers services for the diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract and pathologies of the reproductive organs in men. The therapeutic options are complemented by the treatment of urological problems in children. The department's doctors focus on the patients with oncopathologies (prostate cancer, renal cell cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer). Of particular interest is minimally invasive therapy of stones in the kidneys, ureters and bladder. The doctors have in their arsenal conventional and the very latest conservative, drug and surgical therapies, which allow them to achieve the best result in clinical cases of varying severity.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology ranks among the top German departments specializing in prostate cancer treatment! The department deals with the diagnostics, conservative and surgical treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system in men and boys. If necessary, surgical treatment may be provided with the use of sparing minimally invasive techniques, which allows to ensure early recovery for the patient. In the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, kidney stone disease, ultramodern laser technologies are widely used. The department treats more than 1,800 inpatients and about 5,000 outpatients every year.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology offers the full range of diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the reproductive organs and urinary system in men. Key attention is paid to the treatment of urologic cancers, benign prostatic hyperplasia, kidney stone disease and urinary incontinence in men and women. The department also specializes in kidney transplantation (in collaboration with the Department of Nephrology) and the treatment of andrological diseases in men, including infertility. To provide surgical treatment, the department uses sparing minimally invasive techniques and the da Vinci surgical system, which minimize the risk of complications and guarantee the fastest possible recovery of patients. The department is certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG) as a specialized Prostate and Kidney Cancer Center. The department annually admits more than 5,600 inpatients, which makes the urological medical facility one of the largest in Germany. All the department's doctors are highly qualified specialists in their field of expertise, so patients can be sure that they will receive high-quality treatment using the very latest therapeutic techniques.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology provides the full range of services in the fields of its competence, meeting the high standards of modern university medicine. The department specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The medical facility also successfully treats diseases of the prostate gland, testicles, penis, male infertility, and erectile dysfunction. In addition, the department's doctors admit children with congenital and acquired diseases of the urinary system, as well as boys with congenital malformations of the reproductive system. A unique feature of the department is an advanced Center for da Vinci Robotic Surgery, which performs many effective minimally invasive interventions for prostate gland, bladder, and kidney cancer. Since 2006, when the center first opened its doors to its patients, the specialists have performed a total of more than 7,000 robot-assisted surgical procedures, including more than 5,000 prostatectomies, about 260 cystectomies, and more than 1,500 nephrectomies. Since 2016, the center's surgeons have also performed 23 kidney transplants with the da Vinci surgical system.
Department of Urology
According to the reputable Focus magazine, the Department of Urology ranks among the top German medical facilities in the field of its competence! The department's team of doctors specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the full range of diseases of the kidneys, bladder, ureters and male reproductive system. The department's doctors focus on patients with urologic cancers: prostate cancer, testicular, bladder, kidney and adrenal cancers. The department's urologists quite often admit patients with benign urologic diseases, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, kidney stone disease, and urinary incontinence in women and men. The department boasts an excellent infrastructure, as it has an in-house X-ray unit, four state-of-the-art operating rooms for endoscopic procedures, and several operating rooms for open and minimally invasive surgery. In addition, the pride of the medical team is the most advanced da Vinci surgical system that allows performing low-traumatic operations for prostate, kidney, adrenal and bladder diseases. As of today, robot-assisted interventions are a breakthrough in surgery and are available only in the best European medical centers. With more than 3,600 inpatients every year, the department enjoys a reputation as the largest urology medical center in Germany and has everything necessary for high-quality treatment of urologic diseases of any severity.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Andrology offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with diseases of the urinary system and for men with pathologies of the reproductive system. The team at the medical facility also admits children and adolescents with urologic diseases. The department has 62 beds for inpatient treatment. Therapeutic options include both conservative and surgical techniques. Many operations are performed using the innovative da Vinci surgical system. The department also successfully uses modern laser systems, including the GreenLight laser, a holmium laser, a thulium laser and the laser for water vapor thermal therapy. The key focus of the department's work is on cancer surgery for malignant diseases of the prostate, bladder, kidneys, and testicles. The department also specializes in the treatment of urinary incontinence and pediatric urologic pathologies. Prostate diseases are treated in a specialized center certified in accordance with the DIN EN ISO 9001 requirements.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the male reproductive system and pathologies of the urinary system in men and women. The medical facility treats patients of all ages, including children. The department enjoys a reputation as the largest and one of the leading centers in Germany for the surgical treatment of prostate cancer and laser treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (HoLEP, ThuLEP, and Greenlight Laser procedures). The department is part of the Robotic Surgery Center Oldenburg and therefore has successful experience in performing robotic surgery using the innovative da Vinci system for prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer. The medical facility has 2 operating rooms and 3 procedure rooms where more than 3,000 surgical and interventional procedures are performed every year. The department has 64 inpatient beds. The department is certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG) in the field of prostate and kidney cancer treatment. The healthcare facility has a highly qualified team of doctors who provide each patient with optimal medical care, taking into account the specifics of their clinical case.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology offers the full range of diagnostics, conservative and surgical treatment of genitourinary diseases in men and boys. The main areas of the department's clinical activity include the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract in both sexes, the treatment of pathologies of the reproductive system in men. The doctors pay special attention to the surgical treatment of malignant urologic tumors – more than 1,700 surgical interventions of varying complexity are performed annually in the department. Surgical options for cancer treatment are complemented by various types of chemotherapy and targeted therapy, for example, in kidney cancer. In addition, the department's doctors specialize in the comprehensive treatment of kidney stone disease. The department's specialists have in their arsenal all modern technical resources for the most effective treatment that meets the requirements of modern European medicine. The doctors regularly improve their professional skills by undergoing advanced training courses, participating in national and international conferences for the exchange of clinical experience, etc.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a relatively new method of prostate cancer treatment. Initially, it was used in several clinics in Germany and France, and only at the beginning of this century it became widespread in Europe and Asia. The information on success rates of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy identifies about 16,000 treated prostate cancer patients.
HIFU for prostate cancer treatment
The use of radical prostatectomy in the medical treatment of prostate cancer is not always possible, as most cases of the disease occur in patients of older age groups. The development and improvement of alternative, high-tech methods of treating patients with prostate cancer is an urgent issue of modern urology. One of these methods is high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for prostate cancer. The essence of the technique is based on the effect on the tissue of the prostate gland of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) – waves with a frequency of 3 MHz.
Observations indicate that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with prostate cancer is an effective, minimally invasive, safe method of medical treatment with a low number of complications, which makes it possible to recommend it for use in prostate cancer patients with poor health conditions.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), is used in cases when the radical prostatectomy is not possible. In addition, it can be used as a life-saving therapy for relapses (the recurrence of a tumor after other prostate cancer treatments). The method is not recommended for patients who have had rectal surgery. In this case, there is a possibility of rupture of the intestinal wall and the appearance of fistulas.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is most effective when the prostate is small. With a volume of over 30 сс., first, transurethral resection or laser enucleation of the prostate is performed.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU therapy) in patients with prostate cancer is an effective, minimally invasive, safe medical treatment that rarely causes complications.
Types of HIFU for prostate cancer
Whole-prostate HIFU. Whole-prostate HIFU treats the whole prostate and takes about three hours. It may be suitable for men who have prostate cancer that needs treating more than one area of their prostate.
Focal HIFU. Focal HIFU treats a smaller area of the prostate and takes from one to two hours. It may be suitable for men who have cancer that needs treating in only one area of their prostate.
The surgeon will treat the areas of cancer and a small area around them. So, less of the healthy tissue is damaged during focal HIFU compared to whole-prostate HIFU. Some men who have focal HIFU have only one area of cancer in their prostate.
Other men have another area of cancer in their prostate that is not treated on purpose. This cancer is not treated because it is less likely to spread (low-risk cancer) and it may not cause any problems. These men will have regular examinations to keep an eye on the cancer.
With focal HIFU, there is a small risk that some areas of cancer that do need treating may be missed because it doesn’t treat the whole prostate. If this happens, there are further procedures that can be done in order to get rid of or control the cancer.
How is HIFU for prostate cancer carried out?
The essence of the method of HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) is to affect prostate cancer tissue with focused ultrasonic waves with a frequency of 3 MHz. The high intensity of the waves and the concentration of radiation at one point cause a thermal effect and the phenomenon of cavitation: the destruction of the gland tissue occurs. Subsequently, in 3-6 months, the necrotic prostate tissue, including the capsule, is replaced by fibrous tissue.
There are two systems that cause similar effects in the prostate gland – "Ablatherm" by "EDAP TMS S.A." (France) and "Sonablate" of "Focus Surgery Inc." (USA). Due to a number of the advantages, the first system has become more widespread in the world.
The HIFU prostate cancer therapy undergoes as follows.
Under spinal anesthesia, an endorectal probe is inserted into the body of the patient who lies on the right side. The probe combines an ultrasound scanner and an ultrasound emitter. The doctor can see images of the prostate on the monitor and treatment starts. Through successive "shots", which allow reaching a temperature of 85°C within a few seconds with a lesion zone 19-28 mm long and 1.7 mm wide, the entire prostate tissue is treated layer by layer.
The duration of the procedure ranges from ten minutes to several hours and almost directly depends on the volume of the prostate gland. Due to the prostate edema in the postoperative period, the bladder is usually drained with the help of catheterization for several days.
Indications for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
The indications for the HIFU therapy are:
- Localized prostate cancer
- Relapse after radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy
- Locally advanced and generalized prostate cancer in combination with hormonal therapy
Absolute contraindications are:
- History of rectal fistula
- Stenosis, rectal amputation
Relative contraindications are:
- Volume of the prostate more than 40 cc.
- Prostate calcifications
- Severe bladder obstruction
To reduce the volume of the prostate gland, eliminate bladder obstruction, and remove gland stones, transurethral resection of the prostate is performed beforehand.
Side effects and benefits of HIFU
After high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), the following complications were noted: temporary urinary retention, which disappears in pharmacotherapy administration; ejaculation disorders, and erectile dysfunction.
One of the most serious complications of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy is the urethrorectal fistula formation. This complication occurs relatively rarely, but it is the most severe one due to a sharp decrease in the quality of life and the need for complex, long-term, and often ineffective medical treatment.
The advantages of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as a method of treating prostate cancer are as follows:
- Absence of damage to the skin
- Treatment in one session
- No risk of bleeding
- High accuracy of the intervention
- Constant visualization of the treatment process
- Possibility to repeat the procedure in case of treatment failure
- Treatment can be performed in patients with recurrent disease after radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy
Elderly patients with aggravated somatic status receive minimally invasive, effective treatment so that they can return to their usual everyday life, without taking hormonal therapy and without any physical or other restrictions. The only necessary follow-up test in this case is the periodic determination of the PSA (prostate specific antigen) in the blood. Therefore, this focused ultrasound treatment method allows the patient to maintain not only health but also the quality of life.
The use of radical treatments for prostate cancer is not always possible and desirable. And there are several reasons for this:
- The majority of patients have concomitant pathology, specifically diseases of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems (75-80% of all cases of prostate cancer occur in men over 65), so they cannot tolerate the radical prostatectomy.
- Conducting radiation therapy requires special equipment and the premises prepared in a certain way.
- Radical methods of treatment have a certain percentage of severe complications.
- Patients do not always seek to undergo invasive interventions, which, of course, is prostatectomy. Due to this, the development and improvement of alternative, high-tech methods of treating patients with prostate cancer, one of which is HIFU therapy, is an urgent issue of modern urology.
The cost of HIFU for prostate cancer treatment
With Booking Health services, you can undergo HIFU therapy for prostate cancer at an affordable price. The cost of the procedure varies in different countries. We can arrange a trip for treatment at a fair price. The cost of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for prostate cancer is between 16,900 EUR and 25,150 EUR.
Where can I undergo HIFU treatment abroad?
Among foreign hospitals, the best success rates in HIFU treatment for prostate cancer are demonstrated by:
- University Hospital of Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich, Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology. The department ranks among the TOP German departments specializing in prostate cancer treatment. It is certified as the Prostate Cancer Center according to the standards of the German Cancer Society. This fact confirms the credibility of the department in the field and the high success rates in prostate cancer treatment.
- Medipol Mega University Hospital Istanbul, Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology. The department offers a full range of diagnostics and treatment of genitourinary diseases in boys and men. Particular attention is paid to the surgical treatment of prostate cancer. The treatment of this pathology is also carried out using an innovative technique – high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
- Primus Super Speciality Hospital New Delhi, Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Nephrology. The department provides an accurate diagnostics and effective treatment of a wide range of genitourinary diseases in boys and men, kidney disease in men and women. All procedures are carried out in strict accordance with standardized international protocols.
How can I undergo high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy abroad?
The self-organization of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment abroad can be overwhelming. It requires specific knowledge and experience in medical tourism. It is safer, easier, and less stressful to shift some responsibility onto a medical tourism agency.
Booking Health is the largest and most transparent medical tourism agency in the world. Medical treatment abroad is arranged due to the direct cooperation with leading foreign hospitals.
Booking Health provides the following services:
- Selection of treatment program and medical facility
- Communication with the clinic
- Providing the favorable overall cost of treatment procedures
- Translation of medical documents
- Help in applying for a visa for the patient and accompanying person
- Flight and accommodation booking
- Interpreting services
To undergo prostate cancer treatment abroad for a reasonable price, please leave a request on our website. The medical tourism coordinator will contact you during few hours and provide you with further information.
