Histotripsy is a form of ultrasound therapy that uses high-intensity soundwaves to create a “bubble cloud” that mechanically liquefies and destroys cancerous tissue in the liver – all without a single incision, probe, or invasive incident.
This groundbreaking new liver cancer treatment allows our surgeons to non-invasively eliminate cancerous liver tumors with short, precise sonic pulses that leave the surrounding tissue intact using the Edison® Histotripsy System technology. Because of its non-invasive nature, histotripsy is the ideal treatment solution for patients who are not candidates for open surgery or may have previously been told their tumors are inoperable.
Led by Dr. Cataldo Doria, internationally renowned hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon and Medical Director at Capital Health Cancer Center, Dr. Ajay Choudhri, interventional radiologist and Chairman of the Department of Radiology at Capital Health, and Dr. Nikhil Thaker, radiation oncologist and Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, this new treatment option further expands upon the world-class offerings available at our Liver Cancer Center of Excellence, opening the doors for thousands of patients to receive life-saving therapy closer to home.
Following a consultation with your cancer specialist to determine if you’re eligible for the procedure, you’ll work with the Capital Health Cancer Center team to establish a date and time. To prepare for the procedure, your doctor may require you to avoid food and drinks for 8 hours prior to treatment.
On the day of your procedure, your doctor will perform a supplemental ultrasound to confirm the location of your tumor. After this, general anesthetic might be administered before the surgeon places the histotripsy instrument head over the targeted tumor.
Once the procedure begins, the treatment head delivers pulsed sound waves that induce “bubble clouds” at a focal point, which form and collapse within microseconds, creating force strong enough to destroy the tumorous tissue at cellular and sub-cellular levels. The treatment itself generally takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, but can vary depending on specific variables like tumor size, location, and the number of tumors being treated.
The full length of the procedure generally ranges from 1 to 3 hours.
Following treatment, some patients experience minor pain where the tumors once resided. Most patients find they can return home that same day and resume their daily routine.
The main candidates for histotripsy include:
Histotripsy can be used to treat patients who are not candidates for surgery or may have previously been told their tumors are inoperable. It is also compatible with other forms of treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Additionally, histotripsy can be used to treat metastatic cancer that has spread to the liver.
Whether you’re a newly diagnosed Capital Health patient or simply seeking a second opinion about your liver cancer diagnosis, you can schedule an appointment here by giving us a call at 609-537-6000, or submitting a call back request below.
Can I have another type of procedure in the future after histotripsy?
Yes. Currently, there are no contraindications with other treatments. Histotripsy has been used before, after, or in combination with other procedures. It can also be performed multiple times on the same patient – in cases where a new tumor forms, a patient can undergo the procedure a second or even third time, if necessary. The decision to incorporate histotripsy and the potential impact on future clinical decisions should be discussed with your physician.
Does insurance/Medicare cover histotripsy of the liver?
Medicare should cover the procedure if it is reasonable and necessary. However, it will be necessary to have your selected histotripsy provider verify coverage with private insurance. As a new treatment option, treatment coverage and payment are still being established with the different insurance companies.
How do I know if I’m a candidate?
Any patient with liver tumors might be a candidate for histotripsy. If you are interested in learning more about whether histotripsy is right for you, talk to your liver specialist, call 609-537-6000, or request a call back from a scheduler by clicking here.
Is the histotripsy procedure safe?
Histotripsy has been studied in laboratories for over 20 years with clinical trials beginning in 2018. In a clinical trial conducted in 2019, it was used to successfully destroy liver tumors in humans.
The #HOPE4LIVER trials demonstrated successful use of histotripsy in patients with primary and metastatic tumors in the liver in the US and EU.
1. THERESA Trial, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03741088
2. #HOPE4LIVER US https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04572633
3. #HOPE4LIVER EU https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04573881
