How do rfa work

Your doctor can repeat the procedure if new cancer appears. Radiofrequency and microwave ablation are used to treat many types of liver cancer. The two most common types are:. Ablation may also be used for multiple other types of cancer and masses within the liver.

In general, radiofrequency ablation is most effective treating tumors that are less than one and a half inches in diameter. It may be used in addition to chemotherapy or radiation therapy or as an alternative to surgical treatment. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including herbal supplements. List any allergies, especially to local anesthetic , general anesthesia , or contrast materials. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs or blood thinners before your procedure.

Prior to your procedure, your doctor may test your blood to check your kidney function and to determine if your blood clots normally.

Women should always tell their doctor and technologist if they are pregnant. Doctors will not perform many tests during pregnancy to avoid exposing the fetus to radiation. If an x-ray is necessary, the doctor will take precautions to minimize radiation exposure to the baby.

See the Safety in X-ray, Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Procedures page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays. Your doctor will likely tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure. Your doctor will tell you which medications you may take in the morning.

The equipment used in this procedure depends on the type of imaging used— magnetic resonance MR , computed tomography CT , or ultrasound. Other equipment such as needle electrodes, an electrical generator and grounding pads may also be used. There are two types of needle electrodes: simple straight needles and a straight, hollow needle that contains several retractable electrodes that extend when needed. The radiofrequency generator produces electrical currents in the range of radiofrequency waves.

Insulated wires connect the generator to the needle electrodes and to grounding pads, which are placed on the patient's back or thigh. The microwave generator produces electromagnetic waves in the microwave energy spectrum. It is connected by insulated wires to the needles. The CT scanner is typically a large, donut-shaped machine with a short tunnel in the center. You will lie on a narrow table that slides in and out of this short tunnel.

Rotating around you, the x-ray tube and electronic x-ray detectors are located opposite each other in a ring, called a gantry. The computer workstation that processes the imaging information is in a separate control room. This is where the technologist operates the scanner and monitors your exam in direct visual contact.

The technologist will be able to hear and talk to you using a speaker and microphone. Ultrasound machines consist of a computer console, video monitor and an attached transducer. The transducer is a small hand-held device that resembles a microphone. Some exams may use different transducers with different capabilities during a single exam.

The transducer sends out inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into the body and listens for the returning echoes. The same principles apply to sonar used by boats and submarines. The technologist applies a small amount of gel to the area under examination and places the transducer there.

The gel allows sound waves to travel back and forth between the transducer and the area under examination. The ultrasound image is immediately visible on a video monitor.

The computer creates the image based on the loudness amplitude , pitch frequency , and time it takes for the ultrasound signal to return to the transducer. The traditional MRI unit is a large cylinder-shaped tube surrounded by a circular magnet. You will lie on a table that slides into a tunnel towards the center of the magnet. Some MRI units, called short-bore systems , are designed so that the magnet does not completely surround you. Some newer MRI machines have a larger diameter bore, which can be more comfortable for larger patients or those with claustrophobia.

They are especially helpful for examining larger patients or those with claustrophobia. Open MRI units can provide high quality images for many types of exams. Open MRI may not be used for certain exams. For more information, consult your radiologist. Depending on the area treated, a superficial burning pain with hypersensitivity, similar to a sunburn feeling may be experienced.

Sometimes a slight numbness of the skin over the same area may also be experienced. Pain relief after RFA is typically experienced 1 to 3 weeks after the injection. Patients may engage in regular activities but should let pain levels be their guide for the first few days. Since many patients have been de-conditioned over many months or years as a result of their pain, physicians might prescribe a guided physical therapy regimen to allow them to increase their strength and activity tolerance in a safe manner.

The radiofrequency ablation treatment is a relatively safe and low-risk procedure. The doctor who will perform the procedure reviews your medical history and previous imaging studies to plan the best location for the ablation. Be prepared to ask any questions you may have at this appointment. Patients who are take aspirin or a blood thinning medication may need to stop taking it several days before the procedure.

Discuss any medications with your doctors, including the one who prescribed the medication and the doctor who will perform the injection. The procedure is usually performed in an outpatient special procedure suite that has access to fluoroscopy. Make arrangements to have someone drive you to and from the office or outpatient center the day of the ablation.

At the time of the procedure, you will be asked to sign consent forms, list medications you are presently taking, and if you have any allergies to medication. The brief procedure may last minutes, followed by a recovery period. The patient lies on an x-ray table. Local anesthetic is used to numb the treatment area.

The patient experiences minimal discomfort throughout the procedure. The patient remains awake and aware during the procedure to provide feedback to the physician. A low dose sedative, such as Valium or Versed, is usually the only medication given for this procedure.

The technique for nerve ablation is similar to that used for diagnostic blocks. With the aid of a fluoroscope a special x-ray , the doctor directs a thin hollow needle into the region responsible for the pain. Fluoroscopy allows the doctor to watch the needle in real-time on the fluoroscope monitor to make sure that the needle goes to the desired location. Breast Ultrasound Patient Information. Carotid Duplex Scanning.

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