High intensity focused ultrasound: applications in urology

High intensity focused ultrasound therapy (HIFU) is a novel method of providing precise, non-contact, irradiation free, deep tissue ablation. In the field of urology, clinical data currently available indicate that the technique may be useful in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Development of treatments of localised prostate, bladder and renal cancer are yet to be proven and may require improvements in technology before the full potential can be determined