What if treating cancer required no incisions, no radiation, and minimal recovery—just sound waves precisely targeting tumors? That’s histotripsy, an FDA-approved treatment transforming how we approach liver cancer. What Is Histotripsy? Histotripsy (pronounced “histo-TRIP-see”) uses focused ultrasound waves to destroy liver tumors non-invasively. The sound waves create microscopic bubbles within the tumor that rapidly expand and collapse, mechanically breaking apart cancer cells. The...

Mechanism of Action:  Histotripsy uses focused ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy tissue through cavitation, without heat or ionizing radiation. In contrast, radiation therapy works by causing direct DNA damage through double-stranded breaks and indirect damage via reactive oxygen species. Treatment Profile: Histotripsy : Non-invasive, non-thermal, no incisions or needles, typically outpatient single-session treatment with quick recovery Radiation Therapy : Can involve substantial...

As of late 2024, histotripsy is available in 18 states  across the U.S., with systems in approximately 40-100 hospitals were expected to have the technology by end of 2025. You can access histotripsy now at the following locations: Major Academic Centers •    Cleveland Clinic  (Cleveland, Ohio) - One of the first to offer the treatment •    Mayo Clinic  (multiple locations) •    University of Michigan Health / Rogel Cancer Center  (Ann Arbor, Michigan) •    University of Chicago Medicine...