Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Over the past decade numerous ablative treatment modalities have been introduced in which kidney tumors are destroyed with thermal energy and left in situ (not removed). The precise application of thermal energy to kidney tumors provides an alternative minimally invasive treatment option to major surgery of kidney removal, with low risk of patient complications.

The thermal ablative techniques currently available are cryoablation (cold) and radiofrequency (heat) ablation. Since the majority of kidney tumors diagnosed today are small tumors discovered incidentally, these ablative procedures have become increasingly more popular.

Radiofrequency energy works by inducing ionic agitation, frictional heat and cell death by coagulation necrosis. Radiofrequency energy destroys tumor cells by a direct cellular effect as well as by cutting off the blood supply to the tumor. The main advantages of RFA of small renal tumors are:

• Effective treatment of small renal tumors
• Sparing of normal kidney tissue
• Minimally invasive treatment with overnight hospital stay and quick return to normal activities
• No scar as they are delivered percutaneously through a needle probe under radiological guidance