Liver cancer rates have tripled since 1980, but UVA Health is offering a new, noninvasive treatment for the disease.
The procedure, called histotripsy, uses ultrasound waves to target cancerous cells.
“So we’ve all felt sort of that force of music. Maybe if you’re at a concert or in your car, and in a very precise fashion, we can concentrate that force to a size about the, you know, maybe about the size of an eraser,” said Dr. Daniel Sheeran, a UVA Health interventional radiologist.
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The treatment does require general anesthesia, but it’s a good option for many patients because it’s non-invasive, has a short recovery time and minimal side effects.
UVA Health is the first hospital in the commonwealth to offer this program.
The hospital plans to start treating patients sometime next month.