Radiofrequency ablation, also known simply as RF ablation or RFA, is a form of local hyperthermic treatment for malignant tumors. Liver cancer has by far seen the most positive results from this type of therapy, largely due to the size and growth pattern of the tumors, but it has also been beneficial in other forms of cancer, like kidney, lung and bone. Though its moniker implies that RF ablation is a form of radiation therapy, the two forms of treatment are actually quite different.
Radiofrequency Ablation
With radiofrequency ablation, a needle is inserted directly into the malignant tumor itself to emit high-frequency radio waves. As the radio waves penetrate the malignant tissue, they elevate the internal temperature of the tumor to anywhere between 122 to 212 degrees F. This increase in temperature effectively damages the abnormal cells, often causing them to die and scar. However, this procedure only diffuses into a parameter of about 3 to 5 centimeters, so this form of treatment is commonly used for smaller cancers, as would be seen in the liver as well as the kidney, lung or bone.
Efficacy
As mentioned before, cancers of the liver have seen the most benefit from the use of RF ablation. Liver cancer is a much more slowly growing form of cancer that usually stays contained within the organ, allowing for this type of localized treatment. When RF ablation is administered, it often results in "complete cell death" of the tumor, according to the Mayo Clinic, especially when the tumor is between 3 to 4 centimeters in size. Yet this procedure is also constructive in treating metastatic cancers of the liver and can be used as a form of adjunct care, such as with surgery, chemotherapy and even radiation therapy.
With other forms of cancer, as seen in the kidney, lung or bone, RF ablation may be used when traditional treatments are either not an option or have failed. Surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most relied upon treatments for these types of cancer, but RF ablation has seen success in these cases. It is still a viable and beneficial course of care, particularly when tumors are small and low in number.
Benefits
As with any form of treatment, RF ablation has its own particular grouping of benefits. Two of the most favorable are its invasiveness and its risk. RF ablation is both minimally invasive and presents minimal risk for the patient. This is largely due to the lack of incision needed to perform the procedure. All it takes is the insertion of a needle to administer the radio waves. It is also quite easy to perform the procedure again, making it an effective form of care for recurrent tumors.
Tags: kidney lung, kidney lung bone, lung bone, radiation therapy, radio waves