Focused Ultrasound Matches Prostatectomy for Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
LAS VEGAS — Focused ultrasound ablation for prostate cancer proved at least equivalent to radical prostatectomy for failure-free survival, according to a randomized trial reported here. After 3 years of follow-up, treatment failure had occurred in 5.6% of patients treated with focused ablation and 7.9% of the prostatectomy groups. The difference did not achieve statistical […]
IVF Helps Patients Trying to Build Families. An Alabama Court Put That in Doubt
Thirty-seven-year-old Corinn O’Brien is about 2 months pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF), but an ultrasound recently showed the fetus might be in trouble, and she wants the option to try again if she needs to. Cancer survivor Kailani Greenwood, PA-C, due to give birth in spring after undergoing IVF, hopes to have more children […]
Opening Blood-Brain Barrier to Deliver Alzheimer’s Drug Shows Promise
Aducanumab (Aduhelm) infusions combined with focused ultrasound led to lower cerebral amyloid-beta levels in Alzheimer’s disease, a proof-of-concept trial showed. The investigational treatment involved creating an opening in the blood-brain barrier with MRI-guided focused ultrasound to boost drug delivery. In each of three participants who received aducanumab infusions, amyloid reduction was greater in brain regions […]
FDA Panel Backs ReCor’s Renal Denervation System for Hypertension
The Paradise ultrasound renal denervation system got backing from the FDA’s Circulatory System Devices Panel as a possible treatment for hypertension, as manufacturer ReCor continues to hope for regulatory approval. On Tuesday, FDA advisors voted 10-2 that the benefits of the Paradise catheter-based system outweigh its risks when used to reduce blood pressure (BP) in […]
Advanced Parkinson’s Symptoms Improved With Focused Ultrasound
Unilateral focused ultrasound ablation targeted to the globus pallidus internus led to a higher percentage of Parkinson’s disease patients with improved motor function or reduced dyskinesia compared with sham over 3 months but was associated with adverse neurologic effects, a pivotal trial showed. A total of 45 patients (69%) in the focused ultrasound group had […]
MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Eases Pain From Bone Metastases
MRI-guided focused ultrasound improved pain and quality of life for patients with bone metastases, similar to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), according to a prospective nonrandomized phase II trial in Italy. At 1-month follow-up, the overall response rates were 91% for those who underwent focused ultrasound and 67% for those who underwent EBRT (P<0.001), with […]
Ultrasound Guidance No Advantage for PCI Access
BOSTON — Routine ultrasound guidance for accessing the femoral vein for percutaneous coronary procedures didn’t cut down on bleeding and vascular complications, the UNIVERSAL trial showed. The primary combined endpoint of major bleeding and major vascular complications at 30 days showed no advantage to the imaging technique added to fluoroscopy, reported Sanjit S. Jolly, MD, […]
MRI-Guided HIFU Effective in Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
MRI-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is effective in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, researchers reported. According to the team’s multicenter, single-arm, phase IIb study of 101 patients who received the treatment, 96% had no evidence of grade group 2 or higher prostate cancer on 6-month MRI-targeted and systematic biopsy in the treated area of the […]
FDA Warns on Contamination Risk With Eco-Med Ultrasound Gels
Use of Eco-Med ultrasound gels or lotions for healthcare procedures — or for any other use — should “immediately stop,” and the products should be discarded, the FDA announced on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the Canadian pharmaceutical company voluntarily recalled one of its products — EcoGel 200 (distributed under various names) — but the agency […]