Laser ablation treatment for prostate cancer has few to no side effects

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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