Is the urethra damaged during the HIFU process?
The urethra has several segments, one of which, the prostatic urethra, runs through the prostate gland. During HIFU, this portion of the urethra is destroyed along with the prostate gland, which is vital to the success of the treatment since it can contain cancer cells. This leaves a cavity that serves as a conduit when the patient urinates. Over time, the urethra can regenerate, because it is made of a different type of tissue than the prostate gland. Regardless, this temporary damage to the urethra does not typically affect the voiding process. The bladder neck and external sphincter are the structures that affect urinary function, and these are not affected during HIFU treatment.
