Radiofrequency Ablation
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
