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Re: HIFU - Ablatherm over Sonablate?

The problem with HIFU as related to Ablatherm and Sonablate is that the technology is changing very rapidly. Both the Sonablate and the Ablatherm have comparison charts which include several errors in information. The Sonablate chart does not have upto date information on the Ablatherm and the same is true for the Ablatherm chart. As to the site www.hifu.ca/ablatherm-vs-sonablate/01-study.php, this study involves a sample size of 19 patients. In Zoology this sample size is absurd. There is other variables that have not been identified as well. No PH.D researcher would ever consider drawing conclusion for such a small sample. In conducting an evaluation of an animal population the researcher would sample as close to 10% of the population as possible. In human populations this is not possible but sample size should be at least into the hundreds before one makes broad sweeping statements as to the effectiveness of Sonablate HIFU.
This site, http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/novelthr/Chinn_TransrectalHIFU.html has quite a good comparison. From my research both Ablatherm and Sonablate HIFU systems are excellent and very close to each other in their procedures. Each system has made updates that have brought them closer together in their effectiveness to treat prostate cancer and improvements to reduce side effects. The differences between the Ablatherm and Sonablate that once existed in procedure, are now becoming similar such as both have 3D imaging and continuous imaging whereas the Ablatherm did not have continuous imaging. The Ablatherm treated the whole prostate at once whereas the Sonablate would divide the prostate into three zones--anterior, middle and prosterior and each zone would be divided into two blocks. The Ablatherm is not doing the same but only having the three zones. The Sonablate has improved its probes so as to be able to have only one block in the zone unless the prostate is quite large.
So all in all they seem to be so close to each other except in minor differences in esthetics. The Ablathem has the patient on his right side and the Sonablate has the patient on his back with his feet up in stirrups. The Ablatherm requires that the patient have a sedative which put him to sleep while for the Sonablate the patient can chose not to be sedatated. Both require the patient to have a spinal.

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