What are the benefits vs. risks ?
3:04 AM | 
Posted by Dr.Ajay Upadhyay
Dr. Ajay Upadhyay
Benefits
* Radiofrequency ablation can be an effective treatment for primary liver cancer and for cancers that have spread to the liver in select patients whose liver tumors are unsuitable for surgical resection.
* In most studies, more than half of the liver tumors treated by radiofrequency ablation have not recurred. The success rate for completely eliminating small liver tumors is greater than 85 percent.
* Treatment-related serious complications are infrequent and discomfort is minimal.
* Radiofrequency ablation may be used repeatedly to treat recurrent liver tumors.
* The percutaneous method of radiofrequency ablation, in which electrodes are inserted through the skin, is minimally invasive, produces few complications, and does not require hospital admission.
* RFA is a relatively quick procedure and recovery is rapid so that chemotherapy may be resumed almost immediately in patients who need it.
* Radiofrequency ablation is less expensive than other treatment options.
* No surgical incision is needed—only a small nick in the skin that does not have to be stitched closed.
Risks
* Any procedure where the skin is penetrated carries a risk of infection. The chance of infection requiring antibiotic treatment appears to be less than one in 1,000.
* Depending on the site of treatment, radiofrequency ablation may cause brief or, rarely, long-lasting shoulder pain; inflammation of the gallbladder that subsides after a few weeks; damage to the bile ducts resulting in biliary obstruction; or thermal damage to the bowel.
* Roughly one in four patients may develop a "post-ablation syndrome" with flu-like symptoms that appear three to five days after the procedure and usually last about five days. An occasional patient may remain ill for two to three weeks. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen taken by mouth is commonly used to control fever and other symptoms.
* Some cases of bleeding have been reported but it usually stops on its own. If bleeding is severe, an additional procedure or surgery may be needed to control it.
* Organs and tissues near the liver, such as the gallbladder, bile ducts, diaphragm and bowel loops, are at risk of being injured. Although this occurs only 3 to 5 percent of the time, it may require surgical correction. The risk of this complication is related to the location of the liver tumor that is treated.
* Less than one percent of patients may develop a localized infection (abscess) at the site of the tumor ablation three to four weeks after the treatment. A liver abscess will require tube drainage and antibiotics to cure. Patients who have had a surgical procedure in which the liver bile duct has been connected to a loop of bowel are at much greater risk of developing a liver abscess after ablation.
* Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
* This procedure may involve exposure to x-rays. However, radiation risk is not a major concern when compared to the benefits of the procedure.
* Severe pain after RFA is uncommon, but may last a few days and require a narcotic to provide relief.
* Radiofrequency ablation can be an effective treatment for primary liver cancer and for cancers that have spread to the liver in select patients whose liver tumors are unsuitable for surgical resection.
* In most studies, more than half of the liver tumors treated by radiofrequency ablation have not recurred. The success rate for completely eliminating small liver tumors is greater than 85 percent.
* Treatment-related serious complications are infrequent and discomfort is minimal.
* Radiofrequency ablation may be used repeatedly to treat recurrent liver tumors.
* The percutaneous method of radiofrequency ablation, in which electrodes are inserted through the skin, is minimally invasive, produces few complications, and does not require hospital admission.
* RFA is a relatively quick procedure and recovery is rapid so that chemotherapy may be resumed almost immediately in patients who need it.
* Radiofrequency ablation is less expensive than other treatment options.
* No surgical incision is needed—only a small nick in the skin that does not have to be stitched closed.
Risks
* Any procedure where the skin is penetrated carries a risk of infection. The chance of infection requiring antibiotic treatment appears to be less than one in 1,000.
* Depending on the site of treatment, radiofrequency ablation may cause brief or, rarely, long-lasting shoulder pain; inflammation of the gallbladder that subsides after a few weeks; damage to the bile ducts resulting in biliary obstruction; or thermal damage to the bowel.
* Roughly one in four patients may develop a "post-ablation syndrome" with flu-like symptoms that appear three to five days after the procedure and usually last about five days. An occasional patient may remain ill for two to three weeks. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen taken by mouth is commonly used to control fever and other symptoms.
* Some cases of bleeding have been reported but it usually stops on its own. If bleeding is severe, an additional procedure or surgery may be needed to control it.
* Organs and tissues near the liver, such as the gallbladder, bile ducts, diaphragm and bowel loops, are at risk of being injured. Although this occurs only 3 to 5 percent of the time, it may require surgical correction. The risk of this complication is related to the location of the liver tumor that is treated.
* Less than one percent of patients may develop a localized infection (abscess) at the site of the tumor ablation three to four weeks after the treatment. A liver abscess will require tube drainage and antibiotics to cure. Patients who have had a surgical procedure in which the liver bile duct has been connected to a loop of bowel are at much greater risk of developing a liver abscess after ablation.
* Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
* This procedure may involve exposure to x-rays. However, radiation risk is not a major concern when compared to the benefits of the procedure.
* Severe pain after RFA is uncommon, but may last a few days and require a narcotic to provide relief.
