Radio Frequency Ablation Therapy
Concept
There is growing concern for radio frequency ablation (RFA) as it is the “new shining star” in minimally invasive cancer treatment. Conventional radio frequency ablation finds the tumor through ultrasound, CT and MRI. Guided by imaging techniques, the doctor inserts a thin needle (electrode) with the length of 15 to 20 cm through the skin and into the tumor. High-frequency electrical energy delivered through this needle heats and destroys the tumor, thus causing coagulative necrosis of cancer cell. Radio frequency ablation can be effective for liver tumor, lung tumor and kidney tumor, etc.
Therapeutic Effect
1.Kill cancer cells rapidly: The radiofrequency waves released by needle electrode make the polar molecules in the tumor tissues to undergo rapid changes in the direction of the radiofrequency alternating current. The produced frictional heat causes the temperature of treating area to rise to 90 to100℃, even more than 100℃ in a matter of minutes. As the heat tolerance of cancer cells is much lower than that of normal cells, cancer cells can be effectively and rapidly killed in 42℃ or above, then heat cogulative necrosis occurs.
2.Prevent tumor metastasis: Radio frequency ablation can clot the blood vessels of tumor tissue, which is good for tumor metastasis prevention.
Indications
1.Primary lung cancer, metastatic lung cancer, pleural tumor, metastasis in the bone of chest wall and sole tissue, mediastinal tumor and etc…
2.Patients who can’t tolerate surgery, unwilling to undergo surgery or with high risk of surgery and senior patients.
3.Treatment for recurrent cancers and metastatic liver cancer that is unavailable to undergo surgery.
4.Remedy for surgical exploration: lung tumor with chest wall invasion; metastatic tumors in the chest walls.
5.The distance between lesion and great vessels and trachea is over 1 cm.
Advantages
1.Strong safety. With the guidance of advanced equipment, this therapy can keep away from the nerve and vessels and precisely target the lesion without injuring the healthy tissue and peripheral nerve.
2.Remarkable therapeutic effect. For the tumor diameter less than 5cm, especially the liver tumor in depth, taking the radio frequency ablation once can eliminate it. This therapeutic effect is as good as that of surgery. For the tumor diameter more than 5cm, this therapy can reduce the risk of surgery.
3.Minimally invasive. No need for surgery, little injury, quick recovery, short inpatient time and low costs.
4.Few complication. Unlike surgery, there is no danger for introgenic residual and intrahepatic metastasis in radio frequency ablation and the radio frequency ablation can clot the blood vessels of the tumor tissues, this in turn is good for tumor metastasis prevention.
5.Wide range of application. It can be applied to major primary, recurrent and metastatic cancer.
