Top 5 Hospitals for HIFU Treatment in New York City in 2025

High - Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has emerged as a revolutionary treatment option, especially for prostate cancer. In New York City, several hospitals are at the forefront of offering this cutting - edge treatment. Let's explore the top 5 hospitals known for their HIFU treatment capabilities.

1. Mount Sinai Hospital

Introduction to HIFU at Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai has made significant strides in the field of HIFU treatment for prostate cancer. HIFU at Mount Sinai is a minimally invasive procedure that presents a viable alternative to traditional radiation or surgery. As noted from their official information, high - intensity focused ultrasound precisely targets cancerous tissue through high - frequency sound waves. An ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum, and the sound waves heat up and ablate the targeted tissue, effectively killing just the cancer cells.

Robotic HIFU and Focal Therapy

The hospital uses robotic HIFU technology, where high - resolution images are fused with biopsy data and real - time ultrasound imaging. This enables urologists to view cancerous tissue images in 3D. With this clear view, doctors can draw precise contours around the diseased tissue and ablate only that portion of the prostate, a process called focal therapy. Focal therapy at Mount Sinai mimics a lumpectomy in breast cancer, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue such as nerves, blood vessels, and muscle tissue. As a result, it reduces the risk of side effects like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction for patients. This is a significant advantage over traditional treatment methods.

Patient Eligibility

Ideal candidates for HIFU at Mount Sinai are those with early - stage (Gleason 6 or 7), low - grade cancer that is confined to the prostate and visible on an MRI or ultrasound. A PSA level below 20 ng/ml is also preferred. HIFU is suitable for treating a single tumor or part of a large tumor, but it is not meant for patients whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate. If you are interested in HIFU at Mount Sinai, you can contact the department of urology at 212 - 241 - 9955.

Insurance Coverage

HIFU at Mount Sinai is covered under Medicare, which has approved treatment reimbursement under a “C - code” for hospital outpatient department services and procedures. However, coverage under private insurance varies. The American Medical Association has initiated the process of establishing a CPT code for HIFU, which may increase private insurer reimbursement starting January 2021. Patients are advised to contact their insurance providers for more information.

2. Maimonides Medical Center

Next - Generation Focal HIFU

Maimonides Medical Center is a pioneer in offering the next - generation focal HIFU treatment for prostate cancer. As the first and only medical center on the east coast to provide this service, it has set a high standard in the field. Focal HIFU at Maimonides destroys prostate cancer cells using the energy from high - frequency sound waves, while leaving the healthy areas of the prostate intact and functional. The latest innovation in this technology allows for very precise treatment, targeting only the cancerous tumor. This state - of - the - art approach results in fewer side effects as it selectively destroys cancer cells within the prostate.

Comprehensive Treatment Options

In addition to HIFU, Maimonides offers a range of other treatment options for prostate cancer. These include nanoknife (IRE), a revolutionary approach that enables surgeons to precisely target and eliminate diseased tissue without harming healthy tissue like blood vessels. The hospital is also known for its robotic - assisted prostatectomy, where specialists use minimally invasive robotic technology to surgically remove the prostate, enhancing precision and leading to better outcomes. Moreover, they offer various radiation therapies such as internal radiation (brachytherapy) and external beam radiation, including 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D - CRT), intensity - modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and image - guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Maimonides is among a few centers nationwide offering an injectable form of radiation to treat prostate cancer that has spread to bones. Other treatment options include androgen deprivation (hormone) therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy for advanced cases.

Patient - Centered Care

The Maimonides Prostate Center is committed to providing personalized treatment plans. Dr. David Silver, the chief of the division of urology and director of the prostate center, emphasizes the hospital's focus on minimally invasive, multidisciplinary surgical and medical care. They offer men facing a prostate cancer diagnosis the most advanced technology and personalized treatment options. The hospital also has patient success stories, with patients praising the doctors for their care and expertise. To inquire about HIFU treatment at Maimonides, patients can call 718 - 306 - 8409.

3. ColumbiaDoctors

HIFU Procedure at ColumbiaDoctors

ColumbiaDoctors offers high - intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as a minimally invasive ablation treatment for localized prostate cancer. The ultrasound waves are focused with extreme precision to instantly and effectively destroy the targeted cells within the prostate. A probe is inserted into the rectum to deliver the ultrasound waves. The duration of the HIFU procedure at ColumbiaDoctors is typically one to three hours and can be performed under general or spinal anesthesia. The procedure requires only a short hospital stay, usually as an outpatient procedure, and has a low complication rate. The prostate tissue is destroyed by the thermal effect of HIFU, with the temperature rising to 85°C, and there is no radiation involved.

Patient Selection

Urologists at ColumbiaDoctors may recommend HIFU for patients who require treatment for localized prostate cancer for the first time and prefer a minimally invasive treatment. However, HIFU may not be the most appropriate option for men with very large prostates. In such cases, a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can be performed to reduce the size of the gland to make the HIFU procedure possible. Also, men who have experienced hardening of the rectal wall due to previous cancer treatments may not be suitable candidates for HIFU.

Procedure Details

Before the HIFU procedure, patients are asked to come into the hospital the night before for a digestive preparation (enema) to prepare the rectum. The procedure is generally performed under local (epidural) or general anesthesia to ensure the patient remains still. The patient lies on his right - hand side, and a gel - coated probe is placed into the rectum. Subsequently, the prostate is located, and the whole prostate or the affected area is treated. Around 400 to 600 shots of high - intensity focused ultrasound waves are generally applied during the procedure. After the treatment, catheterization is often needed as the prostate swells and presses on the urethra. To reduce the need for catheterization, a TURP can be performed before the HIFU procedure on a separate day. The urinary catheter is usually removed three or four days later. Patients may experience some discomfort after treatment, such as mild bleeding at the start of urination, frequent and sometimes urgent urination, urine leakage during physical exertion or coughing, and the elimination of dead cancer cells in the urine. These side effects typically disappear in the weeks following the treatment. Long - term follow - up usually involves checking PSA levels every three months and a biopsy six months after treatment. To make an appointment for HIFU treatment, patients can call 212 - 305 - 0114.

4. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Advanced HIFU for Prostate Cancer

How HIFU Works at Roswell Park

Roswell Park offers high - intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as an advanced new treatment for prostate cancer. HIFU at Roswell Park is a type of focal therapy, which means it only treats the part of the prostate gland that has the cancer, rather than removing the entire gland. The treatment uses highly targeted ultrasound waves to ablate or destroy cancer cells in the prostate. First, the prostate is scanned using an ultrasound probe, and these images are constructed into a three - dimensional model. From there, urologists can plan the procedure to precisely target the cancer cells while leaving the healthy tissue unharmed. The targeted ultrasound waves rapidly heat up the cells to kill them without damaging healthy tissue or other areas around the cancer.

Benefits of HIFU at Roswell Park

One of the key benefits of HIFU at Roswell Park is that it is a safe and painless treatment performed under general anesthesia. It allows for precise treatment of the affected part of the prostate without damaging the healthy tissue and nerves. This procedure may enable doctors to provide curative treatment for prostate cancer without the need for other treatments like surgery or radiation. Other advantages include being non - invasive, as no incisions are involved, a low risk of side effects compared to surgery or radiation therapy (such as a far lower risk of incontinence or erectile dysfunction), and a quick recovery since it is an outpatient treatment, minimizing the time away from work or other activities. Roswell Park is the only provider in Western New York to offer HIFU therapy for prostate cancer treatment.

Patient Eligibility

HIFU at Roswell Park is recommended for people with early - stage prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate. This includes patients who are currently undergoing active surveillance but may start to feel anxious about monitoring their cancers, patients whose prostate cancers show signs of progressing and need treatment (HIFU can be an alternative to surgery or radical prostatectomy), and patients with higher - risk cancers who are too sick to undergo surgery or receive radiation. In certain cases, it can also be given to patients who have already undergone radiation.

Post - Treatment Care

After the HIFU procedure at Roswell Park, a urinary catheter is placed to limit the risk of urinary retention due to temporary swelling. Patients can return home, and the catheter will be removed at their first follow - up appointment a few days later. Patients may experience some irritation with urination as the prostate is swollen after the procedure, but this will improve over time. They will receive a PSA blood test at three and six months, and one year after the procedure, as well as an MRI and possibly a biopsy. If patients traveled to Roswell Park for HIFU treatment, these tests can be performed by a urologist close to home. The HIFU specialists at Roswell Park include Ahmed Aly Hussein Aly, MD, Eric Kauffman, MD, and Bradley Webster, MD, PhD.

5. Allied Urological Services

Ablatherm Robotic HIFU at Allied Urological Services

Allied Urological Services in New York City is notable for using the Ablatherm® Robotic HIFU device for prostate cancer treatment. In 2016, they performed the first prostate ablation treatment with this device. Dr. Altan Ilkay, a leading urologist at Allied with significant experience in minimally invasive prostate treatments, commented on the advantages of HIFU. He mentioned that contemporary patients are often not satisfied with the extreme choices of active surveillance (doing nothing) and radical treatment with surgery or radiation. HIFU is appropriate and attractive for many men in his clinical practice as it is a versatile technology that allows for tailoring of the procedure to fit the individual patient.

Device Advantages

The Ablatherm robotic HIFU device offers a very user - friendly interface that allows the physician to focus on the critical, clinical treatment of the patient. It is owned by Healthtronics, Inc., a leading provider of mobile medical technologies, which is making edap's industry - leading HIFU technology accessible to select urologists throughout the United States. This device is generally recommended for patients with localized prostate cancer (stages T1 - T2) who are not candidates for surgery or who prefer an alternative option, or for patients who failed radiotherapy treatment. The Ablatherm - HIFU is approved for commercial distribution in Europe and some other countries including Mexico and Canada, and has received 510(k) clearance by the U.S. FDA.

Allied's Background

Allied was formed in 1998 and is the management company for a urology group that has nine AAHC - accredited office - based surgical sites located throughout the New York metropolitan area. These sites service 280 affiliated urologists, providing a wide - reaching network for HIFU treatment and other urological services.

Comparing the Top 5 Hospitals

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hospital for HIFU Treatment

Expertise of the Medical Team

The experience and expertise of the urologists and medical staff performing the HIFU procedure are crucial. Look for hospitals where the doctors have a proven track record in HIFU treatment, as well as in overall prostate cancer care. For example, at Maimonides Medical Center, Dr. David Silver is recognized as a leader in urology and has been commended for his work in treating prostate cancer patients. Mount Sinai also has experienced urologists who are well - versed in using the robotic HIFU technology for precise treatment.

Technology and Equipment

The type of HIFU technology and equipment available at the hospital can significantly impact the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. Hospitals like ColumbiaDoctors use state - of - the - art ultrasound technology for precise ablation, while Allied Urological Services utilizes the Ablatherm® Robotic HIFU device, which offers a user - friendly interface and advanced targeting capabilities.

Range of Treatment Options

It's beneficial to choose a hospital that offers a comprehensive range of treatment options. If the HIFU treatment does not yield the desired results, having alternative treatments available can be crucial. Maimonides Medical Center stands out in this regard, offering a wide variety of treatment options including nanoknife, robotic - assisted prostatectomy, multiple forms of radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Patient Experience and Support

The overall patient experience, including pre - treatment counseling, post - treatment care, and support services, is an important consideration. Reading patient reviews and testimonials can give you an idea of how well the hospital takes care of its patients. At Roswell Park, patients can expect personalized care throughout the HIFU treatment process, with clear communication about post - treatment follow - up, including PSA testing and possible biopsies.

Insurance Coverage

Understanding the insurance coverage for HIFU treatment is essential. While Medicare