Histotripsy
Histotripsy uses a robotic machine to target cancerous tumors with precise sound waves, breaking them apart without the need for surgery, needles or radiation.
What diseases does histotripsy treat?
Histotripsy can treat primary liver cancer tumors along with other cancers that have metastasized (spread) to the liver.
Who gets histotripsy?
Histotripsy is a treatment option for patients with liver tumors, including primary liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma or HCC) and liver tumors that have spread from other sites like colon or neuroendocrine tumors. It is recommended for patients with up to three tumors that are less than 3 cm and in locations that are ideal for treatment.
Why would histotripsy be chosen over surgery or another treatment option?
Currently, MD Anderson only uses histotripsy in cases where more proven treatments are not viable options. For example, certain physical challenges, such as the location of the condition, or a patient¡¯s history of surgery or radiation may make surgery or ablation unsafe. Additionally, because histotripsy is the least invasive option, it may be preferred for patients who are not ideal candidates for other treatments.
What happens during a histotripsy procedure?
During a histotripsy procedure, patients are placed under general anesthesia to control breathing and minimize movement of the tumor during the treatment. The sound wave generator of the histotripsy machine is lowered into a frame with a soft, flexible membrane at the bottom that is filled with specially treated water. This membrane rests on the patient¡¯s abdomen, allowing the sound waves to reach the tumor. The treatment itself typically lasts anywhere between 5 and 50 minutes, depending on the tumor¡¯s size and location. Most patients can go home the same day and often return to normal activities quickly.
Whether you need to stay in the hospital overnight after the treatment depends on factors like whether you¡¯re experiencing pain. Your care team will assess your situation and decide when you should return for follow-up care. Over time, the damaged tissue will be gradually replaced by healthy liver tissue.
Histotripsy procedures are currently performed at the MD Anderson Main Campus in the Texas Medical Center.
What are the side effects of histotripsy?
Although histotripsy is non-invasive, it involves destroying tissue and carries similar risks to other ablation therapies. Potential complications include bleeding and infection, though these risks are generally lower than with invasive procedures. The treatment requires general anesthesia, and possible side effects may include pain or discomfort following the procedure.
Histotripsy at MD Anderson
Choosing where to go for cancer care is one of the most important decisions you can make. At MD Anderson, patients are treated by a team of doctors that usually includes a medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist and interventional radiologist. They work together to design a personalized treatment plan tailored to each patient.
Whether the team recommends histotripsy or some other therapy to treat your tumor, you¡¯ll get care from leaders in the field. Our doctors are among the most experienced in the world at cancer treatment. This gives them incredible experience and expertise when designing each treatment. As members of a top-ranked cancer center, they have access to the most advanced technologies, allowing them to deliver the most effective treatment while minimizing side effects.
And at MD Anderson, you will be surrounded by the strength of one of the nation's largest and most experienced cancer centers. From support groups to counseling to integrative medicine care, we have all the services needed to treat not just the disease, but the whole person.
Histotripsy for liver cancer: What to know about this novel cancer treatment
If you, or someone you know, was recently diagnosed with a liver tumor, you may have heard talk about a new type of cancer treatment called histotripsy.
But what is histotripsy? How does it work? Is it only for patients with liver cancer? And, how do you know if you¡¯re a good candidate for it?
Read on to get answers to these questions and more.
What is histotripsy?
Histotripsy is a new technology that was approved in 2023 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of liver tumors. It uses focused ultrasound energy to destroy tumors non-invasively ¡ª that is, without making any surgical cuts.
How does histotripsy work?
Histotripsy works through a process called cavitation, or the creation of air pockets in a particular substance. The focused energy created by the ultrasound machine generates enough force to pulverize matter ¡ª in this case, liver tumor tissue. It also creates a ¡°bubble cloud¡± in the process, which shows us that the energy has reached the level necessary to destroy tumor cells.
Patients receiving histotripsy are given general anesthesia so we can control their breathing and minimize movement of the targeted tumor(s). Then, they¡¯re securely positioned on the operating room table and the equipment is situated over them. Doctors then program the robot to deliver the planned treatment. Once the machine is activated, the procedure itself may take anywhere from 10 to 50 minutes per tumor. The focused energy travels through the body to its targeted location and is automatically delivered.
Is histotripsy used exclusively to treat liver cancer?
Yes. At this time, histotripsy is only approved to treat liver cancers. However, it can be any type of liver tumor, whether it is a primary tumor (i.e. a tumor that started in the liver, such as hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma) or another type of cancer that metastasized, or spread, to the liver.
Histotripsy is being tested for tumors in other organs in clinical trials?but is not currently approved for the treatment of tumors outside the liver.