HIFU which stands for high intensity focused ultrasound is a form of therapy administered by Central Florida HIFU doctors from Urology Health Solutions, Inc. that uses thermal energy that is highly focused to cells that suffer a particular pathology such as tumors with an aim of destroying them by burning. Central Florida HIFU surgeons mainly employ this technique also known as thermal ablative therapy to treat tumors. The process needs to be complemented with other imaging modalities to aid in precision so that normal tissues are free from injury.
In addition to using focused heat on treatment of tumors, these surgeons are also employing Cryotherapy, a procedure in which the cancer cells are destroyed by freezing them. The process involves passing tiny needles directly into the tumor then argon gases are passed into the needles after which helium gases are exchanged in place of argon. The argon gas passed through the needle is usually highly compressed and has an extremely low temperature causing a cooling effect that makes the needle ice cold enabling it to destroy the nearby cells.
Once helium is exchanged, it has a slightly warming effect that causes the tissues that had been frozen to slowly thaw. This produces a cycle of extreme freezing alternating with warming. The cycle is repeated for some time to ensure no tumor cell survives the process.
This form of cryosurgery is able to accomplish the treatment goal through the intense stress cause to target tissues by the rapid falls in temperatures and lack of time for them to adapt to this change. Lowering of the temperatures to below zero has a direct effect on the environment surrounding the cells. Ice crystals form that makes the cell to shrink and get damaged in the process. With further decreases the intracellular environment begins to solidify making it impossible for cells to survive.
The freeze cycle lasts about 10 minutes after which the thawing follows for several minutes. Thawing serves to prime the cancer cells for the next cycle. Repeating the cycle increases the effectiveness of the process and is an important part in achieving complete resolution.
There is a shift in preference towards this form of therapy by both surgeons and patients due to the effectiveness and benefits associated with it. First it is less invasive meaning that the patient does not need to undergo operations into his body to locate the tumor instead the needle is injected directly to the desired site. The times spend for wound care in hospitals is also reduced so patients can return to their work faster.
This form of therapy began long time ago in the mid 1850s by an England doctor called Arnott James who first discovered it when he observed that using a salt solution mixed with ice crystal on patients with cancers brought relief and even cure. The numbing effect made it be used in the theaters for anesthesia but it was later modified to become therapeutic.
HIFU clinicians use this therapy for managing wide range of cancers. The most applications have been in treating prostate and renal cancers especially by urologists. There are additional studies going on the efficacy of cryosurgical treatments for cancers of the liver, thoracic and even bone among others. Call a top Central Florida HIFU doctor from Urology Health Solutions, Inc. for your treatment options.
If you need more information on how to find a qualified urologist at Central Florida HIFU, refer to our related site for more details. To speak with a prostate cancer doctor, click here on http://www.orlandoprostatecancer.com/about-us now.
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