The experience with kidney cancer ablation is very encouraging with approximately 95 percent of small tumors showing no evidence of recurrence on follow up imaging exams. Surgery is the treatment of choice for most kidney tumor patients; however, in the following situations, RF ablation might be considered:
- Patients with one kidney
- Patients with other medical conditions which might prevent surgery
- Elderly patients in whom surgery or postsurgical recovery would be difficult
- Patients with tumors less than 4 cm in size
Similarly, bone ablation for pain reduction is effective in more than 80 percent of patients treated who have a limited amount of cancer involving the bone.The purpose of the procedure is primarily to treat the pain, rather than to cure the cancer. In Mayo Clinic's experience, 80 percent of patients who have had RF ablation to relieve bone cancer pain reported a significant decrease in pain during the follow-up period, with 44 percent of people reporting total pain relief at some point following treatment.
CONDITIONS TREATED WITH RF ABLATION
With intent to cure:
- Liver