Percutaneous Ablations: Minimally Invasive Oncology Treatment

In this paper, three different oncology treatment modalities are evaluated: radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation therapy. Image guidance is crucial in allowing for the accurate placement of electrodes to ensure tumor tissue necrosis with the use of ablation therapy. Additionally, the safety and efficacy of each treatment modality is discussed. Radiofrequency ablation uses alternating electrical currents to cause tissue necrosis. While effective, the use of radiofrequency ablation is limited due to an inability to deliver electrical energy in tissues with high impedance. Microwave ablation therapy delivers electromagnetic fields to allow for ablation and is continuing to grow in use as it is effective and efficient in causing tumor necrosis, as demonstrated by the LUMIRA trial. Cryoablation therapy freezes tissues in order to destroy tumor tissue. Although there have been cases of cryoshock, cryoablation is effective in treating cancers like hepatocellular carcinoma and lung tumors.