Histotripsy for Liver Tumors

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Histotripsy is a new and cutting-edge procedure to treat cancer in the liver. The treatment uses ultrasound waves – no incisions or needles – to precisely target and destroy tumor cells.

Because the treatment is relatively new, UVA Health is one of a few places in the country (and first in the state of Virginia) with the proper training and equipment for histotripsy. At UVA, the treatment is performed after a careful multispecialty review to ensure we are providing the right treatment at the right time for patients.

Histotripsy: A Novel Treatment

Histotripsy uses focused ultrasound to target cancerous tissue. The ultrasound waves create resonant bubbles within the tumor in order to make the cancer cells rupture.

During the procedure, patients are put under general anesthesia to ensure accurate targeting and comfort.  An interventional radiologist uses ultrasound imaging to guide the treatment, which usually takes 2 to 3 hours. Once the procedure is over and the general anesthesia wears off, patients recover for discharge the next morning or even the same day.

Histotripsy can also strengthen patients’ immune response to liver cancer. The way the tumor is destroyed allows proteins of the cancer cells to remain. These proteins are not harmful, and they allow your immune system to identify the malignant cells and perhaps become stronger as a result.

Advantages of Histotripsy for Patient Care

One major benefit of histotripsy for patients is that it is a non-invasive procedure – requiring no incisions. As a result, histotripsy may be a good option for patients who are ineligible for surgical options due to other health conditions.

The treatment also involves less time recovering in the hospital. Once the anesthesia has worn off, patients can go home shortly after the procedure, sometimes even the same day.

Histotripsy has no radiation or dose limit, and it is approved for use in all liver tumors. As a result, a number of different patients can benefit from this technology and over time also receive multiple sessions of the procedure in a short time span if needed.  Histotripsy can still be an option for patients who are receiving other treatments like chemotherapy.

Contact

If you are a patient looking to make an appointment at UVA Health and find out if histotripsy might be right for you, please visit this website.