Liver cancer and radiofrequency ablation
Recent studies involving the use of radiofrequency ablation in treating liver cancer have yielded positive results. Radiofrequency ablation is the removal of unwanted tissue from the body using radiofrequency energy. This method is also used in treating coronary diseases, varicose veins and in somnoplasty.
Although the study was limited to tumors less than four centimeters, the application of radiofrequency ablation was effective on patients with liver cancer where surgery was not possible.
In the said study conducted in Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany complete destruction of tumors occurred in 66 out of 67 cases where multipolar radiofrequency ablation was used to treat liver cancer. Fifty-two percent of the patients are tumor free, while seventy-eight percent are still living after four years. Only in eight cases that reablation was needed from the 67 cases.