New Zealand’s first MRI-guided prostate cancer ablation service—a minimally invasive treatment for men with gland-confined prostate cancer.
This treatment is well suited to patients for whom prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland) may be more challenging, including those where visibility in the deep pelvis is limited. It may also be used in cases where cancer recurs following radiation therapy, providing an additional treatment option without the need for major surgery.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia within an MRI scanner and uses focused ultrasound to heat and destroy cancerous tissue. The procedure is usually completed in a single session of approximately 3–4 hours, rather than requiring invasive surgery or several weeks of radiation therapy.
Patients return home the same day and are usually able to return to normal activities within a few days.
The treatment expands the range of treatment options available, with a reduced risk of side effects such as impotence and incontinence.
Men who may be good candidates for TULSA-PRO
Typically, TULSA-PRO is considered for men with:
- Localised prostate cancer (cancer confined to the prostate)
-
ISUP 2 or 3 disease without prostatic calcifications
- Recurrence after previous treatment in certain circumstances
- A desire to minimise side effects such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction compared with more invasive treatments.
Men for whom TULSA-PRO may not be appropriate
It is generally not suitable as a primary treatment for:
- Cancer that has spread outside the prostate
- Metastatic prostate cancer (spread to lymph nodes, bones, or other organs)
- Some aggressive, high-risk cancers, where surgery, radiation therapy, or systemic treatments may offer better-established outcomes
- Certain prostate anatomies or tumour locations make treatment technically challenging
How to book
Available from late October 2026
We are currently finalising eligibility criteria and referral pathways. Further information will be available soon.
Please note that a urologist referral is required to book the treatment.
If you are interested in the treatment you are welcome to contact us for a discussion or fill in the form to register your interest.
