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Histotripsy cancer treatment
- Pioneering, non-invasive liver cancer treatment
- Precise tumour targeting with minimal impact on healthy tissue
- Minimal downtime, faster recovery
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HISTOTRIPSY ULTRASOUND TREATMENT AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
At HCA Healthcare UK, we're committed to bringing the latest cancer treatments to our patients. Advances such as histotripsy – pioneering, non-invasive ultrasound technology that precisely targets and breaks down liver tumours without the need for surgery.
Histotripsy is a significant step forward in liver cancer treatment, which provides a safe, precise and effective treatment option for people who are unable to have surgery or radiotherapy treatment. It’s innovation delivered with expertise and care.
Histotripsy is an innovative, non-invasive treatment for liver cancer that uses focused ultrasound to safely break down tumours without surgery.
This advanced treatment is available at The Wellington Hospital, London, and provides a treatment option for people whose cancer has not responded to standard therapies or who are unable to have surgery or radiotherapy.
During a histotripsy procedure, high intensity ultrasound waves are precisely directed at the tumour from outside the body using real-time imaging.
These sound waves create tiny bubbles within the tumour, which rapidly expand and collapse, gently breaking down the cancer cells.
The treatment is carried out without the need for any incisions. Most people are able to go home on the day of their procedure, without the need for an overnight stay.
Histotripsy offers several benefits. The procedure is carried out using ultrasound, which means it’s completely non-invasive. The treatment is highly precise which means there’s minimal impact on healthy surrounding tissue. Recovery time is usually short, and most patients experience minimal discomfort and side effects.
Histotripsy is primarily for people who have inoperable liver cancer. We might recommend histotripsy if your cancer has not responded to previous treatments, or if your tumour or tumours are in a location that makes traditional surgery difficult. Your consultant and care team will discuss all available options with you and recommend the safest, most effective treatment plan for you.
Is histotripsy treatment right for me?
Histotripsy may be a suitable treatment option if you have:
- Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma)
- Secondary liver cancer (cancer that has spread to the liver from another part of the body)
- Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) in the liver
Your consultant may recommend histotripsy if:
- Your cancer hasn't responded to other treatments
- Surgery or radiotherapy aren't suitable options for you
- Your tumour is in a location that makes traditional surgery challenging
Histotripsy is not a suitable treatment option for all liver cancers. Your consultant and the wider clinical team will carry out a thorough assessment to determine whether this treatment is right for your individual circumstances.
Contact us about Histotripsy
Histotripsy is a specialised treatment for liver cancer. To help us connect you with the right specialist and discuss the best options for your individual situation, please answer the questions below:
Thank you.
Based on your answers, histotripsy may be a treatment option worth exploring for you.
Please call our team on 020 7908 8045 to discuss your individual diagnosis.
We'll be able to answer your questions and, if appropriate, arrange a consultation with one of our specialists.
**Please note:** Meeting these initial criteria doesn't guarantee suitability for histotripsy. Your consultant will carry out a full clinical assessment to determine whether this treatment is right for your specific circumstances.
At this time, histotripsy treatment is offered on a self-pay basis and isn't covered by health insurance. Our team will provide a quote based on your individual diagnosis and treatment needs. This will be shared with you before committing to treatment so you can make a fully informed decision about your care.
Thank you.
Based on your answers it appears that Histotripsy is not an appropriate treatment for you.
While histotripsy is specifically designed for adults aged 18 and over with primary and secondary liver cancer, we have a wide range of cancer treatments and a team of specialists who can discuss other options that may be more suitable for you.
Please call our team on 020 3117 4030 if you would like to discuss this further.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
From consultation to aftercare
From the moment you arrive until you’re ready to go home, we want you to feel as comfortable in our care as possible.
One of the ways we can put you at ease is to let you know what to expect at each stage of your treatment. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or in the FAQs section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help in any way they can.
One of the ways we can put you at ease is to let you know what to expect at each stage of your treatment. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or in the FAQs section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help in any way they can.
01
Before your procedure
Your care team will guide you through each step of preparation. You'll have:
- A clinical consultation to discuss your medical history and talk through the treatment.
- Updated imaging (such as CT or MRI scans) so we can check the size and position of your tumour or tumours.
- Blood tests to check key markers such as liver and kidney function, and your overall health.
- An anaesthetic review as histotripsy is performed under general anaesthetic.
- A planning ultrasound which will be reviewed by the histotripsy specialist team, to ensure your tumour or tumours can be targeted safely and effectively. You'll be asked not to eat or drink for approximately eight hours before your procedure. Your team will give you specific instructions tailored to your appointment time.
02
During the procedure
On the day, you’ll see your consultant and meet your anaesthetist and nurse, who’ll prepare you and make sure you’re comfortable. You'll be asleep under general anaesthetic throughout the procedure, so you won't feel anything or be aware of the treatment taking place.
Once you are asleep your specialist will place a soft, flexible water filled pad on your abdomen to deliver the focused ultrasound waves. Using real-time imaging, your specialist precisely targets the tumour while avoiding healthy tissue. The treatment usually takes one to three hours, depending on the size and location of your tumour or tumours.
03
After your procedure
You’ll be moved to our recovery area, where your team will monitor you as you wake up. Following a post treatment scan, most people go home on the same day, though we might advise an overnight stay on occasion. You'll need to arrange for someone to accompany or drive you home, as you won't be able to drive yourself after a general anaesthetic.
It’s important to rest and stay hydrated to help your body naturally clear the treated tissue. Most people experience very little discomfort and return to normal activities within a few days.
04
Follow-up care
Your care doesn't end when you leave hospital. You will be referred to your oncology team for ongoing care and we’ll arrange follow-up scans and appointments, including:
- As well as a post treatment scan before you go home, you will have a one-month and three-month scan to review how the area is responding to your treatment
- Ongoing clinic appointments to review and discuss your ongoing clinical progress and care
Where can I get my histotripsy procedure?
We offer histotripsy through our expert team based at The Wellington Hospital in London. Our consultants and clinical specialists have the expertise and advanced technology needed to deliver this pioneering liver cancer treatment safely and effectively.
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
Histotripsy FAQs
Yes. Histotripsy can be used alongside other cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and other systemic anti-cancer therapies, including immunotherapy. In some cases it can also be used to treat people whose cancer hasn’t responded to other treatments. Your consultant will review your individual diagnosis and discuss your suitability for histotripsy treatment. Histotripsy may be followed by other types of cancer treatment.
No, it isn’t. The treatment is non-invasive, so there are no incisions or surgical wounds to heal, and it’s carried out under a general anaesthetic, so you won’t feel anything while receiving histotripsy.
Some people experience mild abdominal discomfort afterwards, but this can usually be managed with standard pain relief.
The procedure itself typically lasts between one and three hours, sometimes longer if there are more than one lesion, or large lesions, requiring multiple treatments. Preparation for anaesthetic and recovery will add to this time, but most people are able to go home the same day.
Most smaller tumours can be treated in a single session. Some people may require more than one session, but that will depend on their individual situation. Your consultant will discuss the best approach with you.
Many people are able to get back to their daily routines – including work and light activity – within a few days. Your care team will provide personalised guidance based on your specific needs.
Yes. Histotripsy can treat both primary liver cancer and tumours that have spread to the liver from other areas, such as the colon, pancreas or breast. Your consultant will review your diagnosis to see if this treatment could be suitable for you.
Most people are able to go home the day of the procedure, once the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off and you have had your post operative assessment scan.
You may need to stay overnight for observation, but this will depend on your individual circumstances. Your care team will discuss this with you.
Yes. Histotripsy can be safely used before, after, or alongside other therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Your consultant will review your treatment history and create a plan tailored to your specific needs.
A clear ultrasound view is needed for histotripsy, so the procedure may not be suitable if you have tumours in locations that are difficult to target safely, or if they’re larger than 5cm.
You’ll have imaging tests to confirm the size and location of your tumour or tumours and this will help your consultant to determine whether histotripsy is an appropriate treatment for you.
After the tumour has been broken down from the histotripsy procedure, your body will gradually clear the treated tissue naturally. Over time, the liver heals naturally as new healthy tissue forms.
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.