PERSPECTIVES IN THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS

In a very large study performed in USA early diagnosis has been demonstrated to be a key factor in oncology showing more than 90% surviving rate after 5 years for almost all kinds of tumours if the diagnosis was performed in early stage. Moreover the great development in medical imaging techniques (MSCT, Dual EnergyCT, open MR, US) make it possible to combine in only one session diagnosis and surgical intervention: the so called interventional radiology where the same image used for diagnosis is guiding the minimally invasive surgical intervention. Cardiovascular procedures are particularly suited for such approach and balloon angioplasty/stent are widely used to open blocked blood vessels. In oncology mininvasive surgery is particularly used for abdominal organs. In this case US are considered the best mean for guidance during the intervention. The first results on a large number of patients demonstrate the usefulness of intraoperative radiofrequency thermoablation of liver tumour when they are correlate with an accurate ecographic analysis during the intervention and the follow up of the patient. For prostate tumours a new technique based on high-intensity focused ultrasounds (HIFU) has shown great potentialities.