Ablation Techniques

Image-guided ablation has evolved to become a common therapeutic option for various tumours and other conditions. It is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery in many cases, especially in early-stage cancers. Thermal ablation techniques, including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation are the most commonly used ones. Non-thermal techniques include chemical ablation and irreversible electroporation. These procedures are usually done under ultrasound or CT guidance or a combination of both. While ablation has become the standard of care in early liver and kidney tumors, its use in other organ systems is fast increasing. Appropriate selection of patients and in-depth knowledge of the hardware are essential in improving the success rates and reducing the complication rates in ablation procedures.