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Ultraschall Med 2012; 33(7): E8-E15
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1299407
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology: The Birth of a New Era of Noninvasive Surgery?

Hochintensiv fokussierter Ultraschall in Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe: Beginn einer neuen Ära der nicht invasiven Chirurgie?
A. Griffiths
1   School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge
,
G. terHaar
2   Physics, Institute of Cancer Research
,
I. Rivens
2   Physics, Institute of Cancer Research
,
D. Giussani
3   Department of Physiology Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge
,
C. Lees
4   Rosie Maternity Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

01 December 2011

15 February 2012

Publication Date:
21 June 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Although ultrasound is an essential investigative modality in obstetrics and gynecology, the potential for therapeutic high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) (also referred to as focused ultrasound surgery, FUS) to offer an alternative to invasive surgery is less well known. The ability of HIFU to create discrete regions of tissue necrosis only in precisely targeted positions by careful placement of the focus, without the need for any surgical intervention, has made HIFU of interest to those seeking noninvasive alternatives to conventional abdominal surgery. This article reviews the current experimental and clinical experience with HIFU in obstetrics and gynecology, and outlines potential future applications in fetal medicine and the challenges faced in their development.

Zusammenfassung

Obwohl die Sonografie ein bedeutendes diagnostisches Mittel in Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe darstellt, ist der therapeutische hochintensiv fokussierte Ultraschall (HIFU) (auch als fokussierte Ultraschallchirurgie, FUS bezeichnet), der eine mögliche Alternative zur invasiven Chirurgie darstellt, weniger gut bekannt. Der HIFU hat das Interesse derer geweckt, die nicht invasive Alternativen zur herkömmlichen Bauchchirurgie suchen, da er in der Lage ist, nur in genau gerichteten Positionen durch vorsichtige Platzierung des Fokus den Gewebstod in abgegrenzten Bereichen hervorzurufen, ohne dass eine chirurgische Intervention nötig ist. Dieser Beitrag bespricht die aktuellen experimentellen und klinischen Erfahrungen mit HIFU in der Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe und gibt einen Überblick über mögliche zukünftige Anwendungen in der fetalen Medizin und den bei der Entwicklung auftretenden Anforderungen.

Key words

obstetrics - high-intensity focused ultrasound - fibroids - twin-twin transfusion syndrome
 

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