How Radiofrequency Ablation Treating Cancer?

Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) is a relatively new therapy for cancer in which tumors are destroyed using heat energy. A needle is placed through the skin and into the tumor. A radiofrequency is sent through the needle which heats and destroys the tumor. This procedure is performed under conscious sedation and most patients can go home the same day.

Two superficial subcutaneous metastatic nodules were treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The patient received significant pain relief and improved quality of life.

RF ablation is a minimally invasive method used to treat multiple types of cancers. RF ablation is ideal for treating multiple tumors of the liver and lung and for relieving the pain of those with metastatic bone lesions. RF ablation is ideal for patients that have too many lesions for surgical removal or who are poor surgical candidates because of other coexisting medical conditions.

Cancer-associated pain is often the most debilitating aspect of malignant disease. Because of the lack of effective treatment options, it is a difficult clinical problem to manage. Treatment of pain from metastatic disease is often palliative in nature and is often limited in effectiveness.

Radiofrequency ablation has been studied in recent years for the treatment and eradication of focal tumors.9 Radiofrequency has long been used to treat painful disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia or osteoid osteoma.

There are many advantages of Radio Frequency Ablation over an open surgical procedure. Patients with multiple lung lesions are often unable to be treated with surgery because too much healthy lung tissue would have to be removed in order to rid the patient of all of the cancerous tissue. Radiofrequency ablation can be used to destroy the tumor while the remainder of the lung is spared. This means that patients can have multiple tumors in both lungs and can still be successfully treated with RF ablation. The same idea also holds true for liver lesions. The other advantage is that RF ablation can be performed multiple times on different occasions. It is very devastating when a tumor recurs after surgical resection. Recurrence after surgery may require another large surgery or may signal the end of the patient's battle with the cancer. RF ablation can be easily performed to treat recurrent tumors.

Recent developments in the technology and techniques of ablation as well as in image guidance have allowed application of this treatment to other portions of the body. The use of thermal therapy to induce coagulation necrosis is being explored in a host of tumor types for cure, debunking, and palliation.

Determine the effectiveness of Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA), in terms of amount of
tumor coagulated and viable cell count, in patients with early invasive breast cancer
or low- or intermediate-grade ductal carcinoma in situ.

• Determine the size, configuration, and pathological features of human breast tumors after treatment with RFA.
• Determine whether RFA energy applied to breast cancer will result in cancer cell death.
• Determine whether tumor-free margins are achieved by RFA in these patients.
• Determine the rate of acute toxicities to skin after surgery in patients treated with
  this regimen.

Surgical resection of RFA area: After RFA is completed, the electrode is removed and
patients undergo wide local excision of the residual tumor or mastectomy. Discover how RFA is being used to treat to different cancers.