Radiofrequency Ablation - Detail

Reprinted with permission of the Society of Interventional Radiology © 2004, 2008 www.SIRweb.org.
All rights reserved.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) offers a nonsurgical, localized treatment that kills the target tissue with heat, while sparing the healthy tissue. Because of the localized nature of this treatment, RFA does not have any systemic side effects. Radiofrequency ablation can be performed without affecting the patient's overall health and most people can resume their usual activities in a few days.

In this procedure, the interventional radiologist uses CT or ultrasound to guide a small needle through the skin into the tumor. From the tip of the needle, radiofrequency energy is transmitted into the target tissue, where it produces heat and kills the tumor.

Woman in bandana

Benefits

  • May be performed under light sedation, avoiding general anesthesia
  • Is well tolerated. Most patients can resume their normal routines the next day and may feel tired only for a few days.
  • Can be repeated if necessary
  • May be combined with other treatment options
  • Can relieve pain and suffering for many cancer patients

Efficacy

Bone Tumors: Preliminary studies have demonstrated that RFA significantly reduced bone pain from metastatic disease in over 90 percent of patients who had failed or were not suitable candidates for conventional therapy. In these studies, there were only few patients who suffered any side effects or complications. Therefore, RFA was demonstrated to be safe and effective in selected patients.

Breast Tumors: For some women, breast surgery is not an option, due to other health concerns. For these patients, RFA is an excellent treatment option…. Although the use of RFA in other organs, especially in the liver, has shown promising results for killing cancer cells, the technique is not yet a mainstream treatment option for breast cancer patients. Current research is underway to further explore this treatment and the long-term effects on the disease and patients.

Kidney Tumors: If the tumor is small, RFA can shrink and likely kill the tumor. Although early results are encouraging, long-term follow-up is necessary to determine the precise role of RFA in treating small kidney cancers. Current ongoing studies will determine long-term survival. The FDA has approved RFA for use in soft tissue tumors, of which renal cell carcinoma is one.

Liver Tumors: In a small number of cases, RFA can extend patients' lives, but it is generally palliative. Depending on the size of the tumor, RFA can shrink or kill the tumor, extending the patient's survival time and greatly improving their quality of life while living with cancer. It is a very safe procedure, with complication rates on the order of two to three percent, and has been available since the late 1990s.

Lung Tumors: Depending on the size of the tumor, RFA can shrink or kill the tumor. Because it is a local treatment that does not harm much healthy tissue, the treatment can be repeated as often as needed to keep patients comfortable….RFA is effective for small to medium-sized tumors and emerging new technologies should allow the treatment of larger cancers in the future. RFA is a new treatment that has shown early, promising results.

Risks

The risks of RFA are similar to a biopsy, namely localized bleeding and some pain. Bleeding that requires action is uncommon partly because the heating from the radiofrequency energy cauterizes the tissue and minimizes the risk of hemorrhage. Heating of the tumor may cause heating of an adjacent structure, which can lead to some healthy tissue damage. This can be avoided by carefully reviewing the size and location of the tumor before the procedure. Tumors adjacent to structures such as bowel may not be candidates for RFA or may require special procedures to create safe distances between the tumor being treated and the adjacent bowel.

Cost/Insurance

Since RFA is new, many insurance companies may require preapproval prior to the procedure.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Virginia Interventional and Vascular Associates (VIVA)
1201B Sam Perry Blvd
Suite 265
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401
(Next to Mary Washington Hospital)
Phone: (540) 654-9118
Office Hours: 8 am to 5 pm Monday - Friday
Email: info@vivassociates.com
Web site: www.vivassociates.com