Radiofrequency Ablation
What is radiofrequency
ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation is a treatment for
liver cancer. This can be a cancer originating
in the liver or a cancer that has spread ("metastasized")
to the liver from other areas of the body. Unfortunately,
liver tumors cannot be destroyed by chemotherapy
and radiation therapy, and often cannot be removed
with surgery. New techniques, such as radiofrequency
ablation, attack these liver tumors and destroy
them easily without side effects and hospitalization.
Radiofrequency ablation is performed on small
liver tumors. A small needle is placed directly
into the center of the tumor. This specially designed
needle is connected to a radiofrequency generator,
which heats the needle tip, killing the tumor.
It is possible to have more than one tumor heated
during the procedure. It takes approximately 30
minutes per tumor. The procedure destroys the
tumor only, sparing healthy liver tissue.
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Will your physician
recommend you for this procedure?
Remember, radiofrequency ablation only treats
tumors in the liver and will have little or no
effect on any other cancer in the body. For example,
the following liver cancers may be treated by
radiofrequency ablation:
- hepatoma (primary liver cancer)
- metastasis (spread) to the liver from:
- colon cancer
- carcinoid
- ocular melanoma
- sarcomas
- a primary tumor in another part of the
body
Your physician may recommend that you have several
tests, including liver function tests, and a CAT
scan or an MRI of your liver prior to the radiofrequency
ablation procedure. Your doctor needs to check
these test results to make sure you do not have:
- tumors that are too large to ablate
- too many tumors to ablate
- tumors outside of your liver
In these instances, your doctor may not allow
you to have the radiofrequency ablation procedure.
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How do you prepare for
the procedure and what is it like?
Radiofrequency ablation is performed in the
Interventional Radiology Suite located in the
Radiology Department at the Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania. The procedure is similar to a
liver biopsy - it is an "outpatient"
procedure.
The evening before the procedure you may not
eat anything. The next morning, you will come
to the Radiology Department, located on the Ground
Floor of the Dulles Building, at your scheduled
exam time. You will be registered, and then taken
to Interventional Radiology were a nurse will
put an intravenous line (IV) into your arm.
Through the IV, you will receive a mild sedative.
Your abdomen will be cleaned and an ultrasound
will be used to locate your tumor(s). A local
anesthetic will be used to numb the skin. A needle,
guided by the ultrasound, will be inserted directly
into the center of the tumor.
The tumor is then killed by the heated tip of
the needle. Each needle insertion and heating
takes approximately 30 minutes. Multiple tumors
can be treated during one procedure.
You are asked to remain for four hours for observation
following your procedure. You should be able to
resume your normal routine the next day. Your
doctor may want to follow-up on your procedure
with a CAT scan or MRI exam.
Are there any side effects
or complications?
Radiofrequency ablation is safe and effective
and may be repeated multiple times. Remember that
the procedure only kills the tumor. Your remaining
normal liver is not affected. Some patients have
soreness or fever for a day or two afterward.
These symptoms are easily treated with medication.
Serious complications are rare, and occur in about
one in a 100 procedures.
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Will radiofrequency ablation
help me?
Remember, this is a treatment, not a cure.
Approximately 90% of patients will see improvement
in their liver tumors. Depending upon the type
of liver cancer, it may improve your survival
rate.
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