Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville recently performed a first-of-its-kind non-invasive liver cancer treatment.
According to a press release from the medical center, the histotripsy procedure, which took place Friday, was the first to ever be performed in the state.
The procedure was performed by Nelson Royall, MD, a surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group.
Histotripsy is an ultrasound-based procedure that offers patients an alternative for treating liver cancer tumors, with no need for incisions or invasive surgery.
NGMC is the first and only health system in Georgia, and one of the first eight hospitals in the nation, to offer histotripsy.
"Performing the first histotripsy procedure at NGMC is not just a milestone for our team, but a leap forward for the entire state," Dr. Royall said. “It's a privilege to be at the forefront of redefining what's possible in cancer care."
The procedure uses focused ultrasound waves to target and break down tissue without harming surrounding healthy tissue. This means more efficient procedures and minimal recovery times.
"It can also be done without disrupting chemotherapy or other cancer treatments," the release from the medical center said. "Any patient with liver tumors is a potential candidate for histotripsy. This includes tumors that have formed within the liver or those that have spread to the liver from other organs."
For more information about histotripsy at NGMC, visit nghs.com/histotripsy.
