Radiofrequency Ablation: A New Revolution in the Treatment of Cancer
Jason R. Williams M.D.



Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a therapy that is gaining
significant ground in the treatment of cancer. The technique
involves inserting a needle under the guidance of computed
tomography (CT). The needle is placed directly into the tumor. A
radiofrequency is then sent through the needle. This RF energy
generates heat, which destroys the tumor. There is no radiation
involved, except for that from the CT scanner. Some patients can go
home the same day of treatment. Most patients will be observed
overnight.

There are many tumors which can be treated successfully with RFA.
Liver tumors are the most common. However, RFA is now being
performed in other areas of the body, such as the lungs, bones, and
adrenal glands. This offers a new treatment modality for a large
number of cancer patients.

The Treatment of Lung Tumors
There are many types of cancers that are found in the lungs. The
most common group of tumors that originate here are the non-small
cell type. The surgical resection of tumors generally gives the
patient the best hope for successful treatment. However, surgery is
associated with significant morbidity and mortality. For this reason
the majority of the patients diagnosed with lung cancer are not
considered surgical candidates.

RFA can be used to treat many tumors which cannot be removed
surgically. Patients may also consider RFA instead of an invasive
surgery. The recovery time is less, allowing patients to
aggressively continue chemotherapy.

Metastatic Cancer to the Lungs
Many types of tumors frequently spread to the lungs. This commonly
occurs in breast and colon cancer. The development of tumor
metastasis to the lungs is also a common problem for patients with
sarcomas. When the cancer spreads to the lungs, the prognosis is not
good. Metastatic tumors to the lung can be treated with RFA in the
same manner as primary lung tumors.

Liver Tumors
Radiofrequency ablation has been successfully used for many years in
the treatment of liver tumors. This includes primary (tumors that
originated in the liver), and metastatic tumors (tumors that have
spread to the liver). Patients treated with RFA recover much faster
than patients treated with a surgical resection. This success
prompted the FDA to approve the use of RFA for these tumors.

Other Tumors
RFA can be used in the treatment of certain bone tumors. This is
particularly helpful in relieving painful tumors. RFA can also be
used to successfully treat some tumors of the kidneys and adrenal
glands. Tumors located in the retroperitoneal area (such as some
sarcomas) can be treated with RFA as well.

Overview of RFA of Cancer
Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for many types of
tumors, particularly in the lung and liver. Because of this success,
RFA is no longer considered an experimental therapy.

The treatment is quick and minimally invasive. The complication rate
is significantly less than that of surgery. With a simple needle
stick, all or a large amount of tumor can be destroyed using RFA.
The procedure is similar to a biopsy.

The treatment can be done using IV sedation only. The recovery time
is quick, thus allowing patients to feel well enough to immediately
begin chemotherapy. Patients may even have RFA while actively
receiving chemotherapy. RFA does not interfere with most standard
cancer therapies. Most insurance companies provide coverage for the
procedure, and most patients will require only an overnight stay in
the hospital.

In cases where the tumors cannot be entirely ablated, there is still
improvement in the patient's prognosis because of reduced tumor
burden. The RFA treatment can add a significant length of time to
the patient's life. In some patients it is possible to ablate all
visible tumor. These patients can potentially obtain a cure, when
there would have otherwise been little hope.

Jason R. Williams M.D.
The American Institute for Cancer Ablation
Gulf Shores, Alabama
jasonwilliams@...
www.cancerablation.com

See also Radiofrequency Ablation: A Minimally Invasive Technique For
Treating Cancer
Radiofrequency Ablation: A Minimally Invasive Treatment that is
Effective for Both Large and Small Tumors