High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Prostate Tissue in vivo with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guidance

This proposal will investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. HIFU is a non-surgical, precise medical procedure to heat and ablate pathogenic tissue. MRI-HIFU combines the excellent image quality of MRI with the therapeutic benefit of HIFU into a state-of-the-art minimally invasive interventional procedure. The focus of this effort will be to evaluate how closely HIFU pulses can be placed to the inner wall of the prostate capsule without damaging the neurovascular bundle and the rectum wall. Our study could help to accelerate the FDA approval for HIFU treatment in prostate cancer and ultimately provide patients with an additional treatment option.