RFA for Liver Cancer

It is a new minimally invasive technique that involves the introduction of image guided electric needles through small punctures in the skin of the body overlying the diseased tissue. The probes are guided to the target site with the help of CT scan or ultrasound. Once the target is reached high frequency current is passed through the needle probes which produces large amount of heat within and around the tumor cells and kills them tumor. It is helpful in localized tumors and can also be used in conjunction with resection or chemotherapy.

RFA can be used successfully to destroy tumor tissue in any part of the body. It can also be used to treat any dysfunctional tissue. Currently it has been used effectively to treat cardiac arrhythmia, liver cancer, varicose veins, kidney tumors, chronic low back pain (rhizotomy). In the last 15 years RFA has come to be a dependable and safe procedure with promising outcome. It is generally used for multiple tumors within the same organ or various organs, primary or secondary tumors, or if the tumor is too large to be resected or if the patient cannot tolerate surgery.

An important advantage of RF current (over previously used low frequency AC or pulses of DC) is that it does not directly stimulate nerves or heart muscle and can therefore often be used without the need for general anesthetic. RFA has become increasingly accepted in the last 15 years with promising results. RFA procedures are performed under image guidance (such as X-ray screening, CT scan or ultrasound) by an interventional pain specialist (such as an anesthesiologist), interventional radiologist or a cardiac electrophysiologist, a subspecialty of cardiologists.

RFA for Liver Cancer

Radiofrequency ablation is used to treat many types of liver cancer. The two most common types are:

• Hepatocellular Carcinoma, which is a primary liver cancer (meaning it begins in the liver).
• Colon Cancer that metastasizes or spreads from the colon to the liver.

In general, radiofrequency ablation is most effective treating tumors that are less than one and a half inches in diameter. It may be used in addition to chemotherapy or radiation therapy or as an alternative to surgical treatment.

Radiofrequency Ablation is a Viable and Effective Treatment Option if You:

• Are not a good candidate for surgery because your tumor is difficult to reach.
• Have other medical conditions that make surgery especially risky.
• Would not have enough liver tissue left for the organ to function adequately following the surgical removal of a tumor.
• Have liver tumors that have not responded to chemotherapy or that have recurred after being removed surgically.
• You have several small liver tumors that are too spread out to be removed surgically.

Benefits of Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

• Treatment-related serious complications are rare and discomfort, pain and muscle weakness is minimal. This reduces the hospital stay.
• Radiofrequency ablation may be used repeatedly to treat recurrent liver tumors.
• The percutaneous method of radiofrequency ablation, in which electrodes are inserted through the skin, is minimally invasive, produces few complications, and does not require hospital admission.
• RFA is a relatively quick procedure and recovery is rapid so that chemotherapy may be resumed almost immediately in patients who need it.
• Radiofrequency ablation is less expensive than other treatment options.
• It does not require general anesthesia.