Ultrasound Procedure for Liver Cancer Preserves Transplant Waiting List Spot

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has successfully employed a new non-invasive ultrasound technique called histotripsy to treat liver cancer, enabling a 69-year-old patient to maintain his position on the liver transplant waiting list. The patient, a grandfather of 12, was at risk of disqualification from the transplant list due to a cancerous tumor.

The histotripsy procedure utilizes focused ultrasound energy to destroy tumor tissue. It works by delivering high-intensity focused ultrasound pulses that cause rapid mechanical vibrations. These vibrations create microbubbles within the tumor, which expand and collapse, breaking apart the cancerous cells without using thermal energy. The resulting liquid is then naturally drained from the body through the lymphatic system, leaving surrounding healthy tissues unharmed.

SGH and the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) initiated the "Histotripsy for Ablation of Liver Tumours" clinical trial in December 2025. As of June 11, 2026, ten patients aged between 55 and 76 have undergone the procedure. While histotripsy shows promise for solid organs like the liver, it is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for liver tumors.

This trial in Singapore is notable for focusing on an Asian patient population. Researchers indicate that anatomical differences in Asians, such as liver size and position relative to the lungs, can influence ultrasound wave propagation. The ten patients in the study will be monitored over the next two years to assess the long-term outcomes of the treatment.