Histotripsy Q&A

My aunt has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Her doctor mentioned histotripsy as a potential treatment. I've never heard of it. What is it and is it safe?

I’m sorry to hear about your aunt. A cancer diagnosis is always a lot to process and can be frightening. The good news is your aunt’s doctor is right. While liver tumors have traditionally been addressed with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, histotripsy is a new treatment option for liver tumors. Let’s dig into what histotripsy is and why it’s such an important breakthrough.

What is histotripsy and how does it treat liver tumors?

Histotripsy is a new noninvasive treatment that uses focused sound waves to break down tumors in the liver without surgery or radiation. Approved by the FDA in 2023, it’s the first treatment of its kind that uses real-time imaging and avoids heat or harmful energy.

Tumors are broken down when ultrasound waves create a “bubble cloud.” These bubbles rapidly expand and collapse, causing the targeted tissue to break down. Healthy tissue remains unaffected.

What are the benefits of histotripsy compared to surgery or other liver tumor treatments?

Histrotripsy offers new hope for patients who’ve already had chemotherapy or radiation and those who have inoperable tumors. Unlike surgery and other treatments, it’s noninvasive and doesn’t affect healthy tissue. It’s also available as an outpatient, same-day procedure.

Your aunt’s medical team can address whether your aunt is a candidate for histotripsy.