UCLA performed Its First MR-guided laser ablation of prostate cancer

Dr Steven Raman of Radiology and Dr Leonard Marks of Urology performed the first MR guided laser ablation of prostate cancer at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital yesterday. This was part of a small safety trial ongoing at UCLA.

About prostate cancer:

from www.northshorelij.com

Prostate cancer occurs in about 30,000 men in the United States. However, standard treatment for prostate cancer such as surgery (i.e. prostatectomy) have high morbidity (i.e. impotence and urinary incontinence). Emerging technology to perform a male version of "lumpectomy"is being studied and include focal ablations using focused ultrasound surgery and laser ablation. These are done under MRI guidance which provides exquisite soft tissue details and anatomy and allows the interventionist to accurately target the region of interest and avoid
off-target regions, such as the nerves which innervate the penis.

Therapies for prostate cancer:
MR-guided laser ablation of prostate cancer is advantageous because it is an outpatient procedure, patients do not require general anesthesia, and the risk of impotence and urinary incontinence is theoretically low.

Visualase Laser Ablation:
A small catheter is inserted into the prostate cancer under MRI guidance. The tip of the laser burns the prostate cancer and kills the tumor. The extent of tumor ablation can be assessed under MRI. The procedure lasts 1-3 hours based on how many cancers are being treated. Patients go home the same day.


For any questions regarding interest in this study or about this procedure in general, visit the UCLA Radiology Prostate Imaging website.