Microwave and radiofrequency tumour ablation
Microwave ablation (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) destroy tumours with heat. Guided by CT or ultrasound, a specialist places one or more probes into the tumour through the skin, so no open operation is needed.
Who it may suit
- Selected small liver cancers or liver metastases
- Small kidney tumours
- Certain lung tumours and other cases chosen by a multidisciplinary team
What happens
- Review of imaging and treatment history
- Planning a safe route for the probe
- Procedure under sedation or general anaesthesia
- Usually one or two nights in hospital, then follow-up imaging
About 1 week.
Available in Canada, but waits can be long. In China it is widely used and usually scheduled quickly.
Things to know. Possible bleeding, infection, injury to nearby tissue or incomplete treatment; lung ablation can cause a collapsed lung. Some tumours are better treated with surgery, medicines or radiotherapy. Ablation does not guarantee a cure or prevent recurrence.
Why an introduction matters
Many of China’s leading specialists work in busy public hospitals without international patient offices. They rarely answer enquiries from abroad directly, and a file sent without an introduction often goes unread. Cases usually reach them through people they already know and trust. Our team on the ground makes that introduction, presents your case properly in Chinese, and follows up until you have an answer.
Some programmes, especially stem-cell and other cell treatments, are experimental. We introduce them only if you ask and your own specialist agrees, and we never describe them as cures.