At Advanced Cancer Care in Atlanta, we are dedicated to bringing patients cutting-edge options that balance effectiveness with quality of life. One of the most important choices for patients with liver cancer is whether to pursue traditional surgery or a newer, less invasive approach like histotripsy.

Surgery for Liver Cancer: The Traditional Gold Standard

For many years, surgical resection (removing part of the liver) has been the definitive treatment for eligible patients. When successful, surgery can achieve long-term cancer control and even cure.

Benefits of surgery:

Proven track record with decades of evidence Potentially curative in carefully selected patients Allows for removal of both tumor and surrounding tissue

Challenges of surgery:

Major operation requiring hospitalization and recovery Risks of bleeding, infection, and liver failure — especially in patients with cirrhosis Many patients are not candidates due to poor liver function, comorbidities, or tumor location Longer downtime before returning to daily life

Histotripsy: A Non-Invasive Alternative

Histotripsy is a non-thermal focused ultrasound therapy that uses sound waves to mechanically break apart tumor tissue without incisions or needles. It was FDA-cleared in 2023 for non-invasive destruction of liver tumors and is now offered at select leading centers, including Advanced Cancer Care Atlanta.

Benefits of histotripsy:

No incision, no surgical risks, minimal recovery time Preserves surrounding liver tissue, vessels, and bile ducts Can treat tumors near vessels where heat-based methods struggle Suitable for patients who are not surgical candidates Early trials show ~90% local control at 12 months Potential immune stimulation, helping the body fight cancer systemically

Limitations of histotripsy:

Long-term survival data are still being collected Not yet as widely available as surgery Some tumors may not be accessible due to acoustic barriers

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature

Surgery

Histotripsy

Invasiveness

Open or laparoscopic operation

Non-invasive, external ultrasound

Recovery time

Days to weeks in hospital + recovery at home

Often outpatient, return to activities within days

Risks

Bleeding, infection, liver failure

Minimal pain, low complication rate

Eligibility

Only in patients with good liver reserve and overall health

Available for patients unfit for surgery

Curative potential

Established, long-term cure possible

Promising results, long-term survival data emerging

Cost

Major surgery costs vary, often higher with hospitalization

Approx. $30,000 per treatment (coverage evolving)

Immune effects

Limited immune stimulation

May stimulate systemic immune response

Who Should Consider Which?

Surgery remains the gold standard for patients with strong liver function and overall good health who can tolerate an operation. It offers curative potential backed by decades of data. Histotripsy is an exciting alternative for patients who are not surgical candidates, have tumors in challenging locations, or want a less invasive option with faster recovery.

At Advanced Cancer Care, we carefully evaluate each case in our multidisciplinary tumor board. Our goal is not simply to replace surgery, but to expand choices so that every patient has the safest and most effective path forward.

Conclusion: A Future with More Options

Histotripsy is helping reshape the liver cancer landscape. Where surgery was once the only curative option, patients now have access to a non-invasive therapy with excellent local control, fewer risks, and faster recovery.

At Advanced Cancer Care Atlanta, we are proud to lead in offering histotripsy — ensuring that our patients receive not just treatment, but hope, innovation, and the highest standard of care.