UVA is 1st in Virginia to Offer Histotripsy, an Innovative Treatment for Liver Tumors

In March, UVA Health became the first hospital in Virginia – and one of a handful of places nationwide – to offer histotripsy, a non-invasive liver cancer treatment.

The innovative procedure uses focused ultrasound to treat cancerous tissue. After a patient is put under general anesthesia, the ultrasound waves create resonant bubbles within tumors in order to make the cancer cells burst. By allowing the proteins of cancer cells to remain intact, the procedure can also allow patients’ immune systems identify these malignant cells and become stronger as a result.

The nature of the procedure offers several benefits for patients. For one, patients experience a shorter recovery time, and can be discharged the next morning or even the same day. Histotripsy also has no radiation and dose limit, and can be used in conjunction with other treatments like chemotherapy. And because histotripsy is non-invasive, it can be of particular service to patients who have health conditions that prevent surgery.

The procedure will be performed by the interventional radiologists within the Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging. Associate Professor Daniel Sheeran, MD serves as the director for UVA’s histotripsy program.

Click here for more information on the procedure and scheduling a patient appointment.