USA Health Uses New Technology For Treating Liver Tumors

USA Health has started using a new ultrasound system to treat liver tumors, becoming the first health system in Alabama and one of fewer than 100 in the nation to employ the noninvasive treatment. The Edison histotripsy system uses brief high-intensity ultrasound pulses to destroy liver tumors without incisions, needles or long recovery times. Surgical oncologist Dr. Natalie Bath led the multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses during the first procedure, which liquified a tumor on the patient’s liver, at USA Health University Hospital. To deliver the treatment, Bath used an ultrasound machine connected to a mobile robotic arm, which was positioned above the patient’s abdomen to precisely target a tumor in the liver. The procedure took approximately 3 hours. USA Health’s acquisition of the Edison system, announced July 16, was made possible through philanthropic support from the USA Foundation.