Liver Cancer Treatment — Radiofrequency Ablation
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Radiofrequency Ablation for Liver Cancer
Radiofrequency Ablation is the use of electrodes to heat and destroy abnormal tissue. This procedure is helping surgeons and radiologists at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) "melt away" cancerous liver tumors, often eliminating the risks and discomfort associated with surgery. In addition, in 80 percent of liver cancer cases, surgical removal of the tumors isn't an option, as the procedure would destroy adequate liver function. Since radiofrequency ablation destroys the tumor without removing it, this procedure is good news for many liver cancer patients.
Used at only a handful of medical centers nationwide, Radiofrequency Hyperthermic Tumor Ablation (RFA) technology involves the use of a special probe with tiny electrodes that kill liver cancer cells. This microwave technology sends electrical energy to liver tumors through a special catheter to ‘cook' the tumor in patients with certain types of liver cancer. Once heated, the liver cancer cells usually die within 15 minutes.
Using RFA, experts at CTCA are able to treat localized cancer in the liver that hasn't responded to chemotherapy or can't be removed safely, or where previous surgeries have been performed and there is a recurrence of liver cancer. Radiofrequency Hyperthermic Tumor Ablation was approved by the FDA in 1996 for use in the treatment of liver cancer, as well as tumors that have spread to the liver from a separate primary site, such as the breast, colon or lung.
Your CTCA care team may use RFA if you have liver tumors less than five centimeters in surface area. It may also be used to treat multiple lesions during the course of your treatment. RFA can either be applied during open surgical procedure, or percutaneously (through the skin), and is positioned within the center of the tumor(s) using ultrasound guidance. You probably won’t need full anesthesia for the percutaneous procedure. A local anesthetic and conscious sedation can be used for your comfort and peace of mind.
Once the catheter's tip is positioned, your surgeon or radiologist will release two to four thin steel prongs, resembling the ribs of an umbrella. The catheter then generates radiowaves, much like those used in microwave ovens. In some cases, this technique may offer you faster, more targeted liver cancer treatment with fewer side effects and shorter hospital stays compared with standard therapies.
Other options for patients with inoperable liver cancer include chemotherapy, administered either intravenously or via the hepatic artery; ablation through an ethanol injection; cryotherapy (freezing); and high-energy ultrasound ablation. While these procedures may be beneficial for some people, each carries some risks, including toxicity, bleeding complications, difficulty of application, and/or significant expense. RFA may offer a low-risk alternative to these procedures.
