Tumor ablation with radio-frequency energy

Tumor ablation by using radio-frequency energy has begun to receive increas ed attention as an effective minimally invasive approach for the treatment of patients with a variety of primary and secondary malignant neoplasms. To date, these techniques have been used to treat tumors located in the brain , musculoskeletal system, thyroid and parathyroid glands, pancreas, kidney, lung, and breast; however, liver tumor ablation has received the greatest attention and has been the subject of a large number of published reports. In this article, the authors review the technical developments and early la boratory results obtained with radio-frequency ablation techniques, describ e some of the early clinical applications of these techniques, and conclude with a discussion of challenges and opportunities for the future.