The UNC Department of Surgery, in collaboration with Radiation Oncology, Anesthesiology and Interventional Radiology, is proud to announce the successful completion of its first histotripsy treatment. This unique operation was performed on a patient with metastatic gastric cancer without interruption of his systemic therapy, marking a significant milestone for the multidisciplinary gastrointestinal oncology group and offering new hope for patients with liver tumors.
Imagine being able to treat cancer without knives, needles, radiation, or heat. That’s the promise of histotripsy. Instead of cutting into the body or burning tissue, this approach uses focused sound waves—like an ultrasound—to do the work. These sound waves create tiny, invisible bubbles inside the tumor. When those bubbles quickly expand and pop, they literally shake the tumor apart from the inside out, cell by cell.
This technique not only reduces recovery time and minimizes discomfort, it also offers new hope for people who want effective options without the harsh toll that surgery or radiation often takes on the body.
By combining expertise from Surgical Oncology, Interventional Radiology, and Radiation Oncology, UNC is at the forefront of evaluating and implementing this promising technology.
Thank you to Dr. Theodore Yangihara (Radiation Oncology) and Dr. David Mauro (Interventional Radiology) for their leadership in this first case, and to the entire team for their dedication to bringing this innovative treatment to our patients.