Effective Tumor Ablation Techniques for Treatment

No one wants to find out they have cancer. However, learning that there are also effective ways to treat cancer can soften the blow. Tumor ablation therapy offers a less invasive and effective treatment option for patients who may not be suitable for open surgery. This minimally invasive technique may be used to treat various tumors throughout the body such as in the liver, kidney, bone, prostate, and lung.

Ablation involves inserting a treatment needle through the skin into the tumor using image guidance such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The treatment needle delivers therapeutic energy (hot or cold) or electric current directly to the diseased tissue, destroying the tumor, while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

In this article, we’ll examine some of the specific ablation therapy options open to patients. We’ll also see some of the complications that can arise and what the future might hold for this medical field.

Ablation Techniques

There are several specific types of tumor ablation and each utilizes different methods to destroy cancer cells. Let’s consider how the main ablative therapies work.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves delivered through a needle probe to produce heat in tissue, destroying the attacking cells. This technology is commonly used to treat small tumors (<2 cm) in the liver, kidney, or lungs.

Microwave Ablation (MWA)

Microwave ablation uses microwaves delivered to a small antenna implanted into the tumor to produce heat in the cancer tissue. The microwaves quickly heat and destroy the cells. It is commonly used in the treatment of tumors in tissues with high water content and is used in liver, kidney, or lung cancers much like RFA.

Cryoablation

Cryoablation destroys tumors by cooling them to cytotoxic temperatures using liquid nitrogen or argon gas. Freezing the cells causes them to rupture and die. It is used in the treatment of renal cancers and metastatic osseous lesions. It may be a good option for patients with decreased kidney function.

Laser Ablation

Laser ablation uses a focused beam of light energy to heat tissue to a high temperature. This precision method of cellular destruction may be used for brain tumors or other tumors that are difficult to reach with traditional methods.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)

Another variation of tumor ablation uses ultrasound waves to heat tissue to levels lethal to cancer cells. It is often guided and monitored using imaging techniques such as MRI or ultrasound. This kind of ablation does not require incisions or needle pokes.

Alcohol Ablation

A final kind of ablation therapy that we’ll mention is intended to address liver tumors. Pure ethanol is injected directly into the liver cancer cells and acts as a potent toxin to the cells and blood vessels within the tumor.

Understanding Tissue-Ablation Interactions and Other Factors

Ablation is currently a standard treatment for most patients with inoperable liver tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma. It is also being used for other cancers, such as lung, kidney, and certain benign and malignant bone tumors. People with inoperable tumors or other medical problems that make them high-risk for surgery may also be candidates for ablation.

Understanding this, what decisions might factor into the choice of ablation therapy and the specific variation to use?

Fundamental tissue properties such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and dielectric permittivity affect the growth of ablation zones. Blood perfusion rate also affects the growth of ablation zones. Multiple applicators can be used to increase the ablation size.

Because of these factors, surgical oncologists will need to make wise choices in the specific ablation techniques performed based on the type of cancer and where it is located. Surrounding tissues and blood vessels can be affected by the ablation procedure. The oncology expert will want to schedule follow-up sessions to monitor scar tissue and the progressive shrinkage of tumors.

Imaging Guidance in Ablation of Cancer Cells

Interventional radiology often becomes the best friend of oncology when minimally invasive methods like ablation are attempted.

Interventional radiologists use real-time imaging guidance such as ultrasound or CT scans to precisely locate the tumor, guide catheter placement, and ensure that probes are correctly placed. 3D calculations from CT images can be made to show the likely ablation zone to reduce the number of therapy sessions while maximizing the effect on the primary tumors.

Risks and Side Effects

Tumor ablation is considered a minimally invasive and effective procedure, but it does carry certain risks and side effects that patients should be aware of. Common side effects are mild to moderate pain at the ablation site. This can often be managed with over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

There is also a risk of infection or bleeding. Injury to surrounding tissues can happen if the ablation zone isn’t calculated precisely. However, these potentially serious complications are rare. It’s also possible that the tumor ablation therapy may not address all the tumor cells in a mass. This may require additional treatments of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA).

Despite the risks, tumor ablation remains a viable and valuable treatment option for many patients. It offers a less invasive alternative to traditional surgery with a quicker recovery time and fewer system-wide side effects.

Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Addressing Tumor Cells

Taking a look at the horizon, what new trends in the field of tumor ablation hold the promise of more effective treatments in the near future?

Irreversible Electroporation (IRE)

Irreversible electroporation, also known as non-thermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE), is a minimally invasive technique beginning to be used to destroy cancer cells. It involves the application of short, intense bursts of electrical pulses to create tiny cavities or pores of only a few nanometers in size in the tumor cell membranes. This disruption leads to cellular death.

Combination Therapy

Combining ablation therapy methods with other treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy shows the promise of improved treatment efficacy. A combination approach can target cancerous cells comprehensively and overcome the limitations of using a singular approach.

Interventional Radiology Advances

As time passes, advances in medical fields will provide greater accuracy and effectiveness in targeting tumors. Real-time imaging using MRI or CT scans allows for precision in ablation probe placement and monitoring of the treatment process. We can expect image resolution advances to raise this effectiveness even higher in time.

Conclusion

Tumor ablation is an important technique in the treatment of a variety of tumors, including liver cancer and kidney cancer. Many ablation technologies involve using heat or cold to destroy cells.

Percutaneous ablation, or a technique that operates through the skin, is minimally invasive and can be done without surgery. Its minimally invasive nature and proven technical success have increased its clinical relevance. It is an accepted oncology treatment used to kill cancer cells and treat tumors with the assistance of a team of professionals, including interventional radiologists.

Some potential complications exist, but these must be carefully weighed against the clear benefits that ablation therapy brings.