Focused ultrasound & histotripsy
Destroying tumours from outside the body with tightly focused sound waves, using either heat or microscopic bubbles.
HIFU is approved for prostate cancer focal therapy and uterine fibroids. Histotripsy (HistoSonics Edison, FDA 2023) mechanically liquefies liver tumours without heat, with early evidence of immune activation. Trials extend to kidney and pancreas.
How it works
Extracorporeal transducer focuses acoustic energy; thermal coagulation (HIFU) or cavitation-driven mechanical fractionation (histotripsy).
- Completely non-invasive
- No ionising radiation
- Acoustic window (ribs, bowel gas)
- Long-term oncologic data limited
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"high-intensity focused ultrasound" OR ABSTRACT:"high-intensity focused ultrasound" OR TITLE:"histotripsy" OR ABSTRACT:"histotripsy" OR TITLE:"focused ultrasound" OR ABSTRACT:"focused ultrasound") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Focused ultrasound & histotripsy, not a curated reading list.