Tumor Ablation

The Division of Interventional Radiology is proud to provide minimally-invasive tumor ablation services for the Southcoast Hospital System.

Introduction to Tumor Ablation

Tumor ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure that is used to treat many types of cancer, including tumors of the kidney, liver, lung, and bone.
Tumor ablation can be the sole form of treatment or it can be used in combination with other therapies depending on the clinical situation.
The following is an overview of the tumor ablation services that are provided by the interventional radiologists for the Southcoast Hospital System.

What is an Interventional Radiologist? (learn more)

Interventional Radiologists (IR doctors) are physicians who perform minimally-invasive procedures in nearly every organ system of the body using ultrasound, x-ray, CT, or MRI guidance.
By performing procedures in the least invasive way possible, interventional radiologists can diagnose, treat, and even cure disease while minimizing the risk to the patient and improving health outcomes with less pain and shorter recovery times in comparison to open surgery.
Most procedures can be performed without the need for general anesthesia or admission to the hospital.

How is tumor ablation performed?

The procedure itself is not significantly painful and is performed with sedation medicine rather than general anesthesia (no breathing tube).
The procedure is performed by inserting a small needle-like probe through the skin and into a tumor under image-guidance.
This requires only a tiny hole in the skin measuring about 3 mm in diameter.
Once the probe is in position, the tumor is destroyed by either heating it (microwave and radiofrequency ablation) or freezing it (cryoablation).

What are the types of tumor ablation and which is best?

The determination of which type of ablation is most appropriate depends on the size and location of the lesion being treated.
Microwave ablation is good for small, easily accessible solid tumors and only requires a short treatment time (2-6 minutes once the probe is in the appropriate position within the tumor).
Cryoablation requires a longer treatment time (at least 30 minutes) but is useful for treating larger tumors and ones that are close to critical structures because a visible ice-ball forms during treatment.
Radiofrequency ablation is primarily used for treating bone/spine tumors at our facility and is often combined with kyphoplasty.

How safe is tumor ablation and what is the benefit over surgery?

Tumor ablation is considered a very safe procedure.
There is a lower complication rate and shorter recovery time in comparison to surgery.
Therefore, ablation is an excellent treatment option for patients that are unable to tolerate surgery.
The main risks of the procedure include bleeding, infection, and injury to surrounding structures.

How effective is tumor ablation?

The effectiveness of tumor ablation depends on the size and accessibility of the tumor.
Tumors that are easily accessible and less than 3 cm in diameter are more likely to be cured.

What if it does not work?

The goal of the procedure is to completely eradicate the tumor; however, a cure may not be possible if tumors are too large or difficult to reach.
Small areas of residual disease can be treated with repeat ablation.
Having an ablation does not prevent patients from receiving other forms of treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Recovery and follow-up after ablation

Following the procedure, patients are observed in the recovery room for at least two hours.
After that, almost all patients are discharged home.
Most patients can resume their normal activities within 3-5 days.
Patients will then be evaluated in the IR clinic and have follow-up imaging at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months from the date of their procedure.