Radiofrequency Ablation for Cancer

Radiofrequency Ablation
for Liver Cancer

CT scan of colon cancer spread to the liver, two hours after RF ablation

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Long-term change after RF ablation

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Radiofrequency (RF) ablation has successfully treated primary liver tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma. It is especially useful for patients who are not ideal surgical candidates, cannot undergo surgery, have recurrent tumors or do not benefit from conventional therapies.

Colon cancer that has metastasized to the liver is the most common metastatic disease treated by RF ablation, but other cancers can also be effectively treated. RF ablation can be effective if the tumors are small and few.

Radiofrequency ablation may help in patients who are undergoing surgery. For example, RF ablation can be combined with surgery to treat a patient who has several tumors in different locations. RF ablation also can be used to treat tumor recurrence.

In addition, RF ablation may be used in conjunction with hepatic artery chemoembolization (HACE) for larger tumors. HACE is another minimally invasive treatment that delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor and limits the blood flow to the tumor.

Few complications have been reported for RF ablation. Patients who have residual tumors can be re-treated if necessary.