Histotripsy at Oroville Hospital
A non-invasive treatment for patients with liver cancer
Oroville Hospital is the first hospital in Northern California, and one of twenty hospitals in the United States, to perform Histotripsy; An innovative, non-invasive, FDA approved, method to effectively destroy tumors in the liver.
About Histotripsy
This robotic-assisted Histotripsy procedure is performed and controlled by our board-certified Interventional Radiologist using sophisticated imaging technology. With the Edison System, Histotripsy utilizes pulsed sound waves to create “bubble clouds” from gases naturally present in targeted tissue. The bubble clouds form and collapse in microseconds, creating mechanical forces that effectively break down tissue at the cellular and sub-cellular levels.
Benefits
Histotripsy is non-invasive, which means it minimizes the risk of infection, bleeding and other complications. It has been studied by doctors and researchers for two decades; it preserves liver parenchyma, preserves hepatic veins, portal veins and bile ducts, and results are seen immediately.
It can be used to effectively treat liver tumors in patients who are not candidates for open surgery or have been told their liver tumor is inoperable. The procedure is compatible with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and can also be used to treat metastatic cancer that has spread to the liver.
What To Expect
The robotic-assisted histotripsy procedure is performed and controlled by our specially trained interventional radiologists using sophisticated imaging technology. Patients will receive general anesthesia to minimize movement during the procedure.
During the procedure, targeted ultrasound waves form bubble clouds that implode and collapse rapidly, destroying only tumor cells. After tumors are liquefied by the sonic beam, only tiny molecules remain in the body and are healthily released in the body. These microscopic fragments are too small to allow the cancer to spread and regrow.
A CT scan will be done immediately following the procedure, as well as a few weeks post procedure. Because this is an outpatient procedure, most patients can return home the same day with minimal discomfort and can return to normal activities shortly after.
Our Approach
“We are proud to add Histotripsy to our medical home. It gives hope of treatment and recovery to patients that is different from surgery or radiation. Our mission has always been to provide high-quality health care to our community,” expressed Robert J. Wentz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oroville Hospital.
Patients have come from Arizona as well as from countries like Malaysia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia to receive treatment in Oroville. Patients have been thrilled with the results, expertise and care they’ve received at Oroville Hospital. To date, the hospital has completed more than 50 cases, making the hospital sixth in the nation for treated cases.
To find out if you are a candidate for Histotripsy at Oroville Hospital, please contact (530) 538-3157.
About HistoSonics
HistoSonics is a privately held medical device company developing a non-invasive platform and proprietary sonic beam therapy utilizing the science of histotripsy, a novel mechanism of action that uses focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy and liquefy unwanted tissue and tumors. The company is currently focused on commercializing their Edison System in the US and select global markets for liver treatment while expanding histotripsy applications into other organs like kidney, pancreas, and others. For more information on the Edison Histotripsy System, please visit www.histosonics.com/. For patient related information, please visit www.myhistotripsy.com/.