Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014 Input
Derivative warrant liability [Abstract]
Number of inputs used for valuation of warrants	6
Pre-tax derivative instrument expense	$ 200,000
Hypothetical change in market price of common shares (in hundredths)	10.00%
Impact of the hypothetical change in market price of common shares on derivative liability	300,000
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2013	2,310,000
Total change in the liability included in earnings	205,000
Fair value of warrants exercised	(116,000)
Ending balance as of March 31, 2014	2,399,000
Recurring [Member] \| Warrant liability [Member]
Liabilities [Abstract]
Total Liabilities	2,399,000
Recurring [Member] \| Warrant liability [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities [Abstract]
Total Liabilities	0
Recurring [Member] \| Warrant liability [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities [Abstract]
Total Liabilities	0
Recurring [Member] \| Warrant liability [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities [Abstract]
Total Liabilities	2,399,000
Recurring [Member] \| Money market funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Total Assets	1,945,000
Recurring [Member] \| Money market funds [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Total Assets	1,945,000
Recurring [Member] \| Money market funds [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Total Assets	0
Recurring [Member] \| Money market funds [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Total Assets	$ 0
2009 Warrants [Member]
Derivative warrant liability [Abstract]
Expected volatility (in hundredths)	101.78%
Risk-free interest rates (in hundredths)	0.05%
Expected life (in years)	0 years 2 months 16 days
2012 Warrants [Member]
Derivative warrant liability [Abstract]
Expected volatility (in hundredths)	114.33%
Risk-free interest rates (in hundredths)	0.21%
Expected life (in years)	1 year 2 months 1 day
2013 Warrants [Member]
Derivative warrant liability [Abstract]
Expected volatility (in hundredths)	91.53%
Risk-free interest rates (in hundredths)	1.52%
Expected life (in years)	4 years 6 months 29 days

Name:	dcth_DerivativeWarrantLiabilityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	dcth_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The hypothetical change in market price of common shares during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dcth_HypotheticalChangeInMarketPriceOfCommonShares
Namespace Prefix:	dcth_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The impact of the hypothetical change in market price of common shares on derivative liability during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dcth_ImpactOfHypotheticalChangeInMarketPriceOfCommonSharesOnDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	dcth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of inputs used for valuation of warrants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dcth_NumberOfInputsUsedForValuationOfWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	dcth_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the pre-tax derivative instrument expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dcth_PreTaxDerivativeInstrumentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	dcth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period the instrument, asset or liability is expected to be outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Measure of dispersion, in percentage terms (for instance, the standard deviation or variance), for a given stock price.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Risk-free interest rate assumption used in valuing an instrument.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings, arising from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph c(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Settlements that have taken place during the period in relation to liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents a liability measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the liabilities reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration