Ultrasound kills cancer cells in bursts of two-second roasts

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 16 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Scientists have just developed an invisible scalpel. It sends ultrasound that roasts bits of a tumour (tumor) at a time in a series of two-second bursts.

The side-effects usually associated with surgery (when cutting a tumour) are avoided in this type of surgery. The ultrasound scalpels do not cut any other tissue (other than the cancer).

76 patients have been treated with this ultrasound technique. None of them needed any form of sedation. This took place at the Royal Marsden Hospital (UK).

At Oxford (UK) twenty patients were treated (under anaesthetic). They used an instrument imported from China.

In China, about 3,000 patients have been treated (at 20 centres). The UK plans larger, more systematic trials.

(Spelling: UK: Tumour. USA: Tumor. UK: Anaesthetic. USA: Anesthetic)

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