Data from the Sperling Prostate Center and the NYU School of Medicine (New York, NY) shows that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided targeted laser ablation (destruction) of prostate cancer is 96% effective with no urinary or sexual side effects.
Related: Laser ablation method used to treat benign prostate tumors now applied to breast tumors
Of the 25 consecutive patients with low-to-moderate risk cancer who participated in the study, none experienced urinary incontinence at any time. Within three months, all men reported return to pre-treatment sexual function. Follow-up needle biopsies showed no cancer in 96% of the treated tumors.
Focal laser ablation (FLA) is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that requires no general anesthesia, no surgery, and no radiation. FLA precisely targets any tumor seen on state-of-the-art 3T multiparametric MRI. Recovery is very rapid, with most patients back to normal activity in 1-3 days.
Although not all prostate cancer patients are qualified for FLA, 3T multiparametric MRI identifies suspicious areas with excellent accuracy. Following image detection, a selective targeted biopsy into the area provides a diagnosis. The combination of MRI and biopsy determines if a man is a candidate for FLA. Long-term results have not yet been established in clinical trials. Laser ablation for tumors in soft tissue is FDA-cleared.
Full details of the work appear in the journal European Urology, for more information, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2015.04.029.
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