Radiofrequency ablation for cancer uses electrical energy and heat to kill cancer cells.

Radiofrequency ablation can be used for many kinds of cancer. Sometimes, it may be used on cells that could become cancer, called precancerous cells.

During radiofrequency ablation, a healthcare professional uses imaging tests to guide a needle to the area that needs treatment. The healthcare professional might put the needle through the skin or through a small cut, called an incision. Electrical energy then goes through the needle. That causes the tissue around the needle to heat up, killing the cells nearby.

Because radiofrequency ablation often doesn't require a large incision, it's called a minimally invasive procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation for cancer is a treatment that uses electrical energy to heat up cancer cells, causing those cells to die.

Radiofrequency ablation often is used to treat cancer that is causing pain or other discomfort. Typically, it's not used as the main treatment for cancer.

Sometimes radiofrequency ablation might be used as a main cancer treatment for people who can't have surgery. That could be due to other health concerns or because there are many small tumors in an organ that would be hard to remove with surgery.

Radiofrequency ablation can be a helpful treatment for many kinds of cancer, including cancer in the:

• Bone.
• Kidney.
• Liver.
• Lung.
• Pancreas.
• Thyroid.

Radiofrequency ablation also can treat cells that could turn into cancer. These are called precancerous cells. For example, it may be used to treat a condition called Barrett esophagus. In that condition, precancerous cells develop in the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, called the esophagus.

Sometimes, radiofrequency ablation may be used to treat tumors or nodules that are not cancer, such as nodules in the thyroid gland.

As with any medical procedure, radiofrequency ablation for cancer has risks. These risks include bleeding, blood clots and infection. It's also possible to have a bad reaction to medicines called anesthetics that prevent pain during the procedure.

Other risks of radiofrequency ablation for cancer include pain in the treated area that lasts and injury to healthy organs and tissue.

Some people have an illness called postablation syndrome that happens several days after radiofrequency ablation. It typically involves a fever and other symptoms that are similar to the flu. In general, postablation syndrome lasts about five days. But in some people, it may not go away for 2 to 3 weeks.

To prepare for radiofrequency ablation for cancer, you might have imaging tests. Healthcare professionals use the images made by these tests to help plan the procedure. Imaging tests may include ultrasound, computerized tomography, also called CT, or magnetic resonance imaging, also called MRI.

You may need to stop taking aspirin or other blood-thinning medicines several days before radiofrequency ablation. These can include warfarin (Jantoven), apixaban (Eliquis), heparin and other medicine such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to a member of your care team first.

You likely will need to stop eating or drinking for a certain amount of time before radiofrequency ablation. Your healthcare team gives you directions to follow before the procedure.

Many people go home the same day that they have radiofrequency ablation. But in some situations, an overnight stay in the hospital may be needed. Arrange for a ride home when you leave the hospital.

During radiofrequency ablation for cancer

Radiofrequency ablation for cancer typically is done in an outpatient setting. That means you don't have to stay in the hospital.

Your healthcare team gives you medicine called an anesthetic so that you won't feel pain. Most often a regional anesthetic is used so that you're aware of your surroundings. But you won't feel anything in the area that's being treated. Sometimes, a general anesthetic may be used for radiofrequency ablation. This puts you in a sleep-like state.

Once the anesthetic takes effect, a healthcare professional:

• Inserts thin metal probes or needles into the area where the cancer is located.
• Watches images made by an ultrasound, CT or MRI to make sure the probes or needles are in the right place.
• Sends electrical energy through the probes or needles that causes the nearby tissue to heat up. The heat kills the cancer cells. It also closes the small blood vessels in the treatment area to ease bleeding.
• Watches and controls the temperature of the needles and the amount of heat within the tissue.

After radiofrequency ablation for cancer

Most people don't need to stay in the hospital after radiofrequency ablation. You may go home the day of the procedure. Some people may need to spend the night in the hospital. You may be given an antibiotic to prevent infection.

After the procedure, you may have some soreness and bruising for several days in the treatment area. Most people can go back to their usual activities within a few days.

After radiofrequency ablation for cancer, you might have regular follow-up exams with your healthcare professional to check on the results. You might have imaging scans and lab tests to see how the cancer is responding to the treatment. Ask your healthcare team when you can expect to know the results.