Radiofrequency application for provoked ATP-reconnection may reduce clinical AF recurrence.

Objective: To report on the long-term results of high-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Methods: A total of 517 men with stage T1c-T3N0M0 prostate cancer treated with Sonablate devices (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA) between January 1999 and December 2007 were included in the study. Biochemical failure was defined according to the Phoenix definition (prostate-specific antigen nadir + 2 ng/mL). Results:The median follow-up period for all patients was 24.0 months (range, 2 to 88). The biochemical disease-free rate (BDFR) in all patients at 5 years was 72%. The BDFR in patients with stage T1c, T2a, T2b, T2c and T3 groups at 5 years were 74%, 79%, 72%, 24% and 33%, respectively (P < 0.0001). BDFR in patients in the low, intermediate and high-risk groups at 5 years were 84%, 64% and 45%, respectively (P < 0.0001). The BDFR in patients treated with or without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy at 7 years were 73% and 53% (P < 0.0001), respectively. In multivariate analysis, pretreatment prostatespecific antigen levels (hazard ratio 1.060; P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval 1.040-1.080), neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (hazard ratio 2.252; P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval 1.530-3.315) and stage (P = 0.0189) were demonstrated to be statistically significant variables. Postoperative erectile dysfunction was noted in 33 out of 114 (28.9%) patients who were preoperatively potent. Conclusions: High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy appears to be minimally invasive, efficacious and safe for patients with localized prostate cancer, particularly those with low-and intermediate-risk cancer.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive technique used in achieve coagulation necrosis. We evaluated biochemical disease-free survival rates, predictors of clinical outcome and morbidity in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with HIFU. Methods: A total of 181 consecutive patients underwent HIFU with the use of Sonablate (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA). Biochemical recurrence was defined according to the criteria recommended by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Consensus Panel. The median age and pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level were 70 years (range 44-88) and 9.76 ng/mL (range 3.39-89.60). A total of 95 patients (52%) were treated with neoadjuvant hormones. The median follow-up period for all patients was 18.0 months (range 4-68). Results: The biochemical disease-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years in all patients were 84%, 80% and 78%, respectively. The biochemical disease-free survival rates at 3 years for patients with pretreatment PSA less than 10 ng/mL, 10.01-20.0 ng/mL and more than 20.0 ng/mL were 94%, 75% and 35%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified pretreatment PSA (P < 0.0001) as a independent predictor of relapse. Conclusion: High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy appears to be a safe and efficacious minimally invasive therapy for patients with localized prostate cancer, especially those with a pretreatment PSA level less than 20 ng/mL.

Long-term followup of patients with high intensity focused ultrasound demonstrated improved clinical outcomes due to technical, imaging and technological advancements.

No abstract