
<b>Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) is a new minimally invasive treatment for localized cancer, which can be done percutaneously [through the skin, without opening up a large incision.]   </b>"Minimally invasive surgical options require less resources, time, recovery, and cost, and often offer reduced morbidity and mortality, compared with more invasive methods "  It is safe, simple, and effective. [8, 1, 2, 6, 7]  RFA can ablate inoperable painful metastatic spinal tumors, and relieve pain, relieve or prevent neurologic deficit, and ablate the tumor so there is no further tumor growth. [9]

"Image-guided, local cancer treatment relies on the assumption that local disease control may improve survival. Recent developments in ablative techniques are being applied to patients with inoperable, small, or solitary liver tumors, recurrent ... renal cell carcinoma, and neoplasms in the bone, lung, breast, and adrenal gland. ... Recent refinements in ablation technology enable large tumor volumes to be treated with image-guided needle placement, either percutaneously, laparoscopically, or with open surgery. Local disease control potentially could result in improved survival, or enhanced operability." [8] 

<b>Consensus indications for use of RFA in oncology are currently ill-defined, despite widespread use of the technique.</b>  "More rigorous scientific review, long-term follow-up, and randomized prospective trials are needed to help define the role of RFA in oncology."  [8] 


<b>More Information:

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References:</b>

1: Radiology 1992 Apr;183(1):29-33   Ablation of osteoid osteomas with a percutaneously placed electrode: a new procedure. Rosenthal DI, Alexander A, Rosenberg AE, Springfield D. 
&&url PMID: 1549690  

2: J Bone Joint Surg Br 2001 Apr;83(3):391-6  Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in osteoid osteoma. Lindner NJ, Ozaki T, Roedl R, Gosheger G,  Winkelmann W, Wortler K.   
&&url PMID: 11341426  

3: Radiol Med (Torino) 2001 Nov-Dec;102(5-6):329-34  [Percutaneous radio-frequency ablation of osteoid osteoma: technique and preliminary results] [Article in Italian] Gallazzi MB, Arborio G, Garbagna PG, Perrucchini G, Daolio PA. 
&&url PMID: 11779979  

4: Radiology 2001 Nov;221(2):463-8 Primary treatment of chondroblastoma with percutaneous radio-frequency heat ablation: report of three cases.Erickson JK, Rosenthal DI, Zaleske DJ, Gebhardt MC, Cates JM. 
&&url PMID: 11687691 

5: J Bone Joint Surg Am 1998 Jun;80(6):815-21  Percutaneous radiofrequency coagulation of osteoid osteoma compared with operative treatment. Rosenthal DI, Hornicek FJ, Wolfe MW, Jennings LC, Gebhardt MC, Mankin HJ. 
&&url PMID: 9655099  

6: Eur Spine J 1998;7(5):422-5     High-frequency radio-wave ablation of osteoid osteoma in the lumbar spine.  Osti OL, Sebben R. 
&&url PMID: 9840478 

7: Radiology 1995 Nov;197(2):451-4  Osteoid osteoma: percutaneous radio-frequency ablation. Rosenthal DI, Springfield DS, Gebhardt MC, Rosenberg AE, Mankin HJ. 
&&url PMID: 7480692 

8. Cancer 2002 Jan 15;94(2):443-51  Percutaneous tumor ablation with radiofrequency. Wood BJ, Ramkaransingh JR, Fojo T, Walther MM, Libutti SK. 
Diagnostic Radiology Department, Special Procedures Division, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. bwood@nih.gov 
&&url PMID: 11900230  

9. Dietrich H.W. Gronemeyer,M.D. et.al  The Cancer Journal Vol.8, No.1, Institute of MicroTherapy and the Department of Radiology and Microtherapy, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. EFMT Development and Research Center for Microtherapy in Bochum, Germany.
