MR-HIFU therapy

HIFU therapy uses high-energy focused ultrasound beams in order to create heating in the target volume. Ultrasound creates mechanical vibration in the tissue which converts into heat. Given that the heating duration is long enough, this results in irreversible tissue damage, while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact.

Turku University Hospital (Tyks) has two clinical MR-HIFU machines, which are used to treat uterine fibroids (myoma, adenomyosis), localised prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The treatment is also used for palliative care of bone tumours.

MR-HIFU treatment is always patient-specific and is dependent on the type and location of the tumour.