NanoKnife™

Video link:
Watch an informative video about the Nanoknife™ treatment option Nanoknife™, available only at Inova Alexandria Hospital, is a minimally invasive cancer treatment that uses irreversible electroportation technology to precisely target and kill hard-to-reach tumors at the cellular level. The precision of the NanoKnife™ allows our interventional radiologists to treat tumors that in the past would be virtually impossible for surgeons to operate on due to their location.

What can be treated with NanoKnife™?

NanoKnife™ is an option for small tumors, typically less than five centimeters, which are considered inoperable or poor candidates for traditional treatments. NanoKnife™ can be used for both primary tumors or for tumors that have metastasized or spread to other parts or organs of the body. At Inova Alexandria Hospital, our interventional radiologists use NanoKnife™ to treat tumors that develop in soft tissue, including the liver, lungs, kidneys and pancreas.

How does it work?

NanoKnife™ technology applies a series of quick bursts of electrical energy through electrodes that are inserted directly into and around the tumor and destroy it – leaving the surrounding tissue, veins, nerves and ducts unaffected. Healthy cells and tissue can then grow back and regenerate within the area. NanoKnife™ is different from other treatments like Cyberknife and traditional surgery in that it can be done quickly and painlessly, and success can be evaluated much more quickly.

What are the benefits of NanoKnife™?

Cutting-edge: Can treat tumors that are considered inoperable, or where radiation therapy is not an option.
Virtually painless: The treatment requires general anesthesia and patients generally experience few or no side effects.
Fast: The treatment requires a brief stay in the hospital, usually just overnight.
No stitches or staples: The patient can leave the hospital with only a small bandage.

NanoKnife™ in the news

Our team

Our team consists of physicians, dedicated physician assistants and our clinic coordinator. We have been working together for years in the minimally invasive treatment on cancer and other vascular diseases. Meet our team

Treatment procedure

Patients arrive one hour prior to the procedure to the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Department (CVIR) where they are greeted by the oncology intervention team including the nurse, technologist and anesthesiologist. After meeting again with the interventional radiologist who will answer any questions, the nurse will place an IV line for medication and fluids.

The patient will receive anesthesia, or an intravenous medication to put them asleep, and will be moved to the procedure room. The procedure generally lasts between one hour to one and a half hours, and following this and the patient will awaken in the anesthesia recovery unit. After a short stay here, the patient will be taken to their room until they are discharged, usually the next morning.

The skin may have a small bandage covering at the procedure spot. There are no stitches or sutures to remove, and the dressing can be removed the following day. The patient will not have any significant medical restrictions after discharge, and may resume activities as tolerated.

Am I a candidate for NanoKnife™?

Call our coordinator at 703-504-7950 to arrange an appointment with one our interventional radiologists, who will discuss your specific case with you.

Physician information

Research
Research is an integral part of our interventional oncology program and our team enrolls patients in different national clinical trials. Currently, we are investigating a multi-institution registry for Soft Tissue Tumor Ablation. Click here to learn more about research through the Interventional Oncology Program.

Patient Referral and Consultation
Our team consists of physicians, dedicated physician assistants and our clinic coordinator. Our commitment to physicians is to offer a consultation within a week of referral. Please contact us at 703-504-7950.

Clinical Applications
Irreversible Electroporation (IRE), the NanoKnife™, was FDA approved in 2009 for soft tissue tumor ablation. IRE has been used successfully for local-regional therapy in primary and metastatic disease involving: