How is rad. freq. ablation performed on a liver tumor and what are the risks?

Generates heat: First, patient is put at ease under local anesthesia or conscious sedationunder; then using image guidence (cat scan or ultrasound) a probe (needle) is inserted in the target lesion (liver tumor) and heat is generated using high frequency ulternating current to destroy tumor. Results has been promissing and in good hands, it is a very safe procedure. Like any procedure, there is potential side effects and risks: bleeding, infection, flulike symptom, heat injury to adjacent tissues, possible skin burn, irritation of diaphragm are to name a few.

Ablations: Rfa competes with cryotherapy (freezing) competes with stereotactic body radiotherapy with cyberknife or linac. All are sophisticated ways of targeting isolated small enough and few lesions to physically destroy the tissue heated, cooled or radiated. Some anecdotally report releaseof growth factors causing other distant (?Bony?) to blossom. All work sometimes. Need more facts!

Probe into tumor: When a large solitary met or a cluster of about 3 lesions present, one can perform a hepatic resection. When there several areas in different lobes not much larger than 5 cm , radiofrequency ablation performed using a probe placed into each leaion. The machine a microwave device, cooks the lesion and ends when the effect reaches outer capsule. Minimal or no complications seen.