What is HIFU?

What is HIFU?
From 14 Questions on HIFU with Answers by Dr. Sevellaraja Supermaniam (Selva), Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist at Mahkota Medical Center, Melaka, Malaysia

Unlike conventional surgeries, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non- invasive, organ-sparing thermal ablative procedure. It uses sound energy to focus a high-intensity ultrasonic beam to thermally ablate abnormal tissue cells, with minimal injury to intervening tissues.

We all know that a magnifying glass can be used to focus sunlight to create heat and burn a hole in a leaf. Similarly, ultrasound energy can be focused on a tiny spot, causing destruction of the tissue.

Under precise imaging guidance, HIFU causes destruction of tissues by two methods: firstly, it raises the temperature of the tissue to 60~100℃, causing thermal ablation of the cells; secondly, it causes pressure waves in the tissues, causing tissue vibration and mechanical cavitation and stress to the cells, leading to cell death.

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