Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency Tumor Ablation (RFA) is a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat small liver, lung, kidney and bone tumors. During an RFA an imaging physician uses a CT scanner to locate a tumor and then guide a specialized needle-like probe into it. A radiofrequency current then is passed through the electrode to heat the tumor tissue near the needle tip and ablate or eliminate it. The heat from radiofrequency energy also closes up small blood vessels, thereby minimizing the risk of bleeding. Studies have shown that tumor cells can be killed if they are brought to a temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
At the S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center our team of highly-trained physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and technologists are led by Peter Julien, MD, and Marc L. Friedman, MD, who head our Radiofrequency Ablation program.
Radiofrequency ablation is generally done in a room devoted to CT or ultrasound imaging. After the patient lies down on the examining table, the tumor will be located and he/she receive intravenous sedation (through a tube previously placed in an arm vein) to avoid discomfort during the procedure. The patient may or may not remain awake, depending on how deeply he/she are sedated. The skin area where the needle passes through will be numbed with local anesthetic to further decrease discomfort. Each radiofrequency ablation treatment takes about 12 to 30 minutes and the total procedure will be completed in one to three hours, depending on how many tumor sites have to be treated. After radiofrequency ablation the patient may receive further medication to prevent pain and nausea as the sedation wears off.
Some advantages of radiofrequency tumor ablation include:
- Effective treatment for small cancers
- Minimally invasive with no skin incision
- Minimal risk to patient
- Typically little or no pain
- Minimal hospital stay
- Can be repeated if new cancer appears
