Researchers at UVA Health have reviewed outcomes from a new, noninvasive way to treat liver tumors called histotripsy and concluded the procedure was associated with low rates of laboratory toxicity and procedural complications.

The findings also highlight the need to better define which patients are most likely to benefit from the procedure. 

The FDA cleared the procedure in 2023, but researchers wanted to see how results played out in the real world. They examined outcomes from 972 patients who underwent the procedure between 2023 and 2026. They looked at factors such as patient survival, liver function before and after histotripsy, and the chances of kidney injury.

Nearly 70% of treatments were performed in patients with metastatic cancer involving the liver. This raises questions about which patients with metastatic disease are most likely to benefit from a treatment directed specifically at liver tumors.