It is hoped the new treatment, which involves heating only the tumours with a highly focused ultrasound, will mean men can be treated without an overnight stay in hospital and avoiding the distressing side effects associated with current therapies.
A study has found that focal HIFU, high-intensity focused ultrasound, provides the 'perfect' outcome of no major side effects and free of cancer 12 months after treatment, in nine out of ten cases.
Traditional surgery or radiotherapy can only provide the perfect outcome in half of cases currently. Experts have said the results are 'very encouraging' and were a 'paradigm' shift in treatment of the disease.
It is hoped that large scale trials can now begin so the treatment could be offered routinely on the NHS within five years.