Neha Rajesh, Year 2 Medicine
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust has been at the forefront of pioneering research in interventional radiology, particularly through its involvement in the CAIN trial. This Phase I multicentre study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the HistoSonics investigational system for the treatment of primary solid renal tumours. Current invasive kidney therapies can pose risks such as bleeding and infection. In contrast, non-invasive histotripsy avoids these complications and offers the potential to destroy only targeted tissue. As a result, existing therapies such as partial nephrectomy and thermal ablation could become completely non-invasive—knifeless and needleless. This advancement is significant, as it reduces post-operative recovery times, lowers infection risk, and minimizes scarring.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the Trust enrolled 25,695 participants across 760 active studies, with an additional 22,113 participants involved in National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) portfolio studies. Brenda Wallis is one example of a success story, having undergone image-guided cryoablation for a right kidney tumour. This minimally invasive interventional radiology (IR) procedure uses extreme cold to precisely target and destroy abnormal tissue. Following a histotripsy procedure in March 2024 as part of the CAIN trial, she was discharged the day after surgery, and her tumour was deemed mostly removed. She shared, “I’m very thankful I was referred to LTHT and had the initial treatment. I’m happy with the treatment, and hopefully, once I’ve had the follow-up monitoring as part of the trial, I’ll be fit and healthy and able to get on with the rest of my life.”
Professor Tze Min Wah, Professor of Interventional Radiology at the Trust, described the treatment as “a Star Wars era,” highlighting how it enters a realm of medicine that was previously thought impossible.
Jennifer Perrin, another patient who underwent the histotripsy procedure, said, “After the treatment I received at the hospital, I returned to my normal activities. I enjoy line dancing and gardening. The team was excellent and very efficient. My advice to anyone considering taking part in the clinical trial is: yes, have it done. For me, it was not a problem at all.”
Histotripsy is based on two core principles: first, it destroys tumours at the cellular level without the need for incisions; second, it uses highly focused ultrasound waves directed at the target area, avoiding damage to surrounding tissues. These high-energy waves cause rapid pressure changes that lead to the formation and collapse of natural gas microbubbles. This creates a “bubble cloud” that mechanically disrupts the targeted cells, while sparing nearby structures.
The procedure is delivered using the Edison system, manufactured by HistoSonics. This system was selected to participate in the UK’s newly launched Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP) Pilot Programme, designed to accelerate the integration of cost-effective medical devices into the UK market. Eight novel technologies were included in the programme, including one that can measure oxygen saturation regardless of skin pigmentation.
Innovation is also underway at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where the Radiology Department has introduced the new ALLIA IGS 740 system from GE Healthcare. This advanced system enables interventional radiologists to perform intricate vascular procedures with greater precision. It supports a variety of treatments, including angioplasty, stent insertion, embolisation (a technique to block abnormal blood vessels), and EVAR (endovascular aneurysm repair). I was fortunate to complete one of my placements there in my first year. At the time, I was still learning the anatomy and physiology involved in these procedures, since we hadn’t yet covered it in our body systems module. Nonetheless, I was genuinely fascinated by the complex equipment and the use of dyes, which made the experience incredibly engaging.
In March 2025, the European Society of Radiology (ECR) held its “Planet Radiology” conference in Vienna, focusing on how radiology can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future. Among the potential improvements discussed in IR was a more than threefold reduction in carbon emissions when using vacuum-assisted excision procedures, compared to Magseed-guided surgical excisions or traditional wire-based assessment of BIRADS 2 and 3 lesions. Dr. Nisha Sharma, Clinical Advisor to NHS England from Leeds Teaching Hospitals, stated that “this is a viable, sustainable alternative to surgery,” noting that vacuum-assisted biopsy supports a “modern, patient-centred pathway that focuses on patient needs, beginning with the minimisation of overtreatment for high-risk breast lesions.”
Dr. Leo Razakamanantsoa of Sorbonne University in Paris also highlighted that reducing the use of general sedation and opting for minimal local anaesthesia promotes sustainability by lowering energy consumption in operating rooms and conserving resources.
With initiatives like IDAP and advances such as histotripsy, the future of interventional radiology looks promising in supporting sustainable and efficient healthcare delivery across the NHS.
References:
• Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (2024). Opening of new interventional radiology suite at Bradford Royal Infirmary. https://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk/opening-of-new-interventional-radiology-suite at-bradford-royal-infirmary/
• EMJ. (2025). Review of the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2025. https://www.emjreviews.com/radiology/congress-review/review-of-the-european congress-of-radiology-ecr-2025-j140125/
• Esaote. (2025). ECR 2025. https://www2.esaote.com/enUS/ultrasound/article/event/ecr-2025/
• European Society of Radiology. (2025). ECR 2025 Programme. https://www.myesr.org/congress/programme/
• Healthcare in Europe. (2025). ECR 2025: Welcome to Planet Radiology!. https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/ecr-2025-planet-radiology-rockall.html
• HistoSonics. (2023). HistoSonics Announces First Ever Kidney Tumor Treatment Using Histotripsy. https://histosonics.com/news/histosonics-announces-first-ever kidney-tumor-treatment-using-histotripsy/
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. (2024). Call for adult patients to take part in new research in testing a new procedure for kidney tumours. https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/news/call-for-adult-patients-to-take-part-in-new-research in-testing-a-new-procedure-for-kidney-tumours/
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. (2024). Our Research. https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/research/our-research/
• PubMed. (2025). Treatment of Primary Solid Renal Tumours Using Histotripsy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40295399/
• Sciensus. (2024). Leeds Teaching Hospitals extends Cancer Companion contract. https://www.sciensus.com/knowledge-hub/leeds-teaching-hospital-nhs-trust-extends sciensus-cancer-companion-app-contract/
THE WORSLEY TIMES 
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