News — Washington, D.C., January 16, 2024 – MedStar Washington Hospital Center is now offering an advanced, non-invasive treatment for men with early-stage prostate cancer that has not spread outside of the prostate gland. Sonablate® HIFU, or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, uses sound energy to preciously target and destroy only the diseased portion of the prostate without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.
"Sonablate HIFU is an alternative for patients who want to take action and preserve their quality of life but do not yet qualify for surgery, or radiation,” said , a urologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. "This new option destroys only the affected cancerous tissue, protecting the healthy surrounding tissue, and preserves urinary and sexual function in men. This focal approach allows patients to recover quickly and return to their normal routines with minimal downtime.”
On January 11, Dr. Krasnow performed the first HIFU procedures in the Washington region on two patients. Both patients went home the same day and are recovering well, largely because the procedure does not involve incisions.
HIFU typically takes one and a half to three hours, depending on the amount of targeted tissue being destroyed. Patients are under anesthesia during the procedure, and typically will have a urinary catheter for three to five days.
In addition to surveillance, other treatment options for prostate cancer include radiation and surgery, but these procedures can come with life-altering side effects, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
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About MedStar Washington Hospital Center
MedStar Washington Hospital Centeris a not-for-profit, 912-bed, teaching and research hospital in the nation’s capital, and is a major referral center for treating the region’s most complex cases. Its cardiology program is highly acclaimed, and its cardiac surgery program has consistently earned the highest national rating–three stars–from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. MedStar Washington operates the region’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center and the District’s only Cardiac Ventricular Assist Device program, both certified by The Joint Commission. The hospital is also home to MedSTAR, a nationally verified level I trauma center with a state-of-the-art fleet of helicopters and ambulances, and it operates the region’s only adult Burn Center.
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