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Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive method of destroying
tumors that cannot be removed surgically. It is safe, fast, relatively
inexpensive, and has been proven to work. Why RFA The preferred method for treating cancerous tumors is to surgically remove the affected area—to cut the diseased tissue out of the body. In some cases, this is not possible. For example, a tumor may be located in an area that is too sensitive to reach surgically, or removal of the affected portion may destroy too much of the healthy tissue around a tumor. RFA allows doctors to kill the tumor for the inside out, without harming healthy tissue that is vital for the organ to function. RFA is particularly useful for patients who can't withstand surgery because they have immune deficiencies, are taking blood thinners, or have other contraindications. In addition, RFA can treat tumors that don't respond to radiation or chemotherapy. How RFA Works In RFA, a needle electrode is inserted under the skin and guided to the tumor, using imaging technology such as ultrasound or CT. When the needle electrode is correctly positioned, radio waves cause the molecules in the tissue around the tip to begin moving, which produces friction that heats and kills the diseased tissue. That effect is localized—healthy tissue farther from the needle electrode is not destroyed. Depending on the size of the tumor, the needle electrode may be moved and the process will start again. It will continue until all of the diseased tissue is destroyed. That dead tumor does not need to be removed surgically; it will shrink and gradually be absorbed by the body and replaced with scar tissue. |
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RFA can be performed under general or local anesthesia and can often be an outpatient procedure. Patients usually resume normal activity within a day or two after the procedure. Risks and Side Effects RFA avoids the side effects of other cancer treatments. The only radiation you'll be exposed to is that used to acquire the images that guide the needle electrode; radiation is not deposited in the body. Likewise, you won't suffer typical chemotherapy side effects such as nausea because no chemicals are deposited in the body. The risk of complications is minimal with RFA. The heat generated by the needle electrode cauterizes the tissue, reducing bleeding. There is a slight risk of infection at the site where the needle electrode was inserted, and you will be instructed to contact your doctor if you develop a fever or ongoing pain or redness at the site. Depending on where the tumor was located, you may face a very slight risk of lung collapse when the electrode is inserted. Types of Tumors Treated RFA has been FDA-approved for the treatment of liver tumors since 1996; it is also being used to treat kidney, lung, breast, bone, and adrenal tumors. In some cases, such as bone tumors, the treatment is used to eliminate the pain the tumor causes; in other cases, such as liver and kidney tumors, RFA treats the cancer and increases the survival rate. The most successful results come with tumors between 0.5 and 3 centimeters in size. RFA can be used to treat multiple tumors in a single site, but most researchers recommend treating no more than three tumors in one session. Tumors that recur can be treated again with RFA. |
