Physicians are testing minimally invasive ablation techniques to determine if they will be acceptable substitutes for surgical removal of primary breast tumors. In radiofrequency ablation (RFA), frictional heating of the tissue is caused by the rapid movement of ions attempting to follow a high frequency alternating current moving between two electrodes. Localization of a small electrode in the tumor is accomplished under ultrasound guidance, and a larger electrode pad is placed on the outside of the body. Five pilot studies have demonstrated that RFA can effectively ablate tumors up to 3 cm in size. In addition to treating small primary tumors, RFA may also be useful for consolidation therapy after lumpectomy, for treatment of inoperable tumors in end-stage patients, for treatment of locally advanced disease as a substitute for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and for treatment of breast cancer metastases, such as bone, liver, and kidney. Clinical trials are needed to assess treatment outcomes and to monitor the long-term fate of ablated tissue.
展开▼
