KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ochsner MD Anderson begins offering FDA-approved histotripsy for liver tumors Noninvasive ultrasound procedure eliminates need for surgery or radiation Treatment available to select patients as a same-day outpatient option Only a limited number of U.S. hospitals currently provid e the technology   Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center has begun offering a newly approved, non-invasive treatment for certain liver tumors, making it one of a limited number of hospitals nationwide to provide the technology. According to a news release, the New Orleans-based cancer center announced it is now treating eligible patients with histotripsy, an ultrasound-based procedure that destroys liver tumors without surgery, radiation or incisions. The treatment received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023. Histotripsy uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to target liver tumors in a single outpatient session. The sound waves create microscopic air bubbles within the tumor tissue, which rapidly expand and collapse, breaking down cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, according to the hospital. The technology can be used to treat both primary liver cancers and tumors that have spread to the liver from other parts of the body. It offers a new option for patients who are not candidates for surgery or other traditional therapies, Ochsner MD Anderson said. “At Ochsner MD Anderson, we are proud to expand treatment options available to patients with liver tumors,” said Dr. Zoe Larned, medical director of Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Histotripsy provides a non-invasive approach to treating liver tumors that may be otherwise difficult to treat surgically, and it can be often safely combined with systemic therapies.” Patient eligibility is determined by physicians based on factors such as tumor size, number and location. Most patients undergo a single treatment and are able to return home the same day, the hospital said. The procedure avoids the use of ionizing radiation and heat-based technologies, which can cause damage to nearby tissue, and eliminates the need for needles or surgical incisions. Clinical studies conducted over more than two decades in the United States and Europe demonstrated the technology’s effectiveness, leading to FDA approval for liver tumor treatment. Ochsner MD Anderson said the addition of histotripsy strengthens its multidisciplinary approach to liver cancer care, which involves specialists in interventional radiology, hepatology, medical oncology, surgical oncology and radiation oncology. The cancer center is part of Ochsner Health’s broader oncology network and operates as Louisiana’s only fully integrated cancer program aligned with MD Anderson Cancer Center’s standards and protocols. It also houses the state’s only Phase I clinical trial program, offering early-stage research studies to eligible patients. Ochsner Health is the largest nonprofit health system in Louisiana and the Gulf South, operating 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. The system reported caring for approximately 1.6 million patients in 2024 across its network. Hospital leaders said the introduction of histotripsy reflects continued investment in advanced cancer technologies aimed at expanding access to leading-edge treatments within the region. ...read more read less