Principles and significance of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of tumors

Radiofrequency ablation therapy is a therapeutic method that uses radiofrequency current to directly kill the tumor locally. Under the guidance of CT, ultrasound or magnetic resonance, the radiofrequency electrode needle is inserted directly into the tumor tissue percutaneously. The radiofrequency electric wave issued by the radiofrequency electrode needle makes the polar molecules of the tumor tissue generate high-speed oscillation, and the heat generated by adjacent molecules rubbing and colliding with each other, so that the local temperature of the treatment area reaches 90-100℃, or even more than 100℃, within ten minutes. The tolerance of tumor cells to heat is significantly lower than that of normal cells. Above 42℃ can effectively and rapidly kill tumor cells and make them undergo thermal coagulation and necrosis. Radiofrequency ablation can make the blood vessels of tumor tissue coagulate at the same time, which is conducive to preventing tumor metastasis. Dupuy was the first to report the radiofrequency ablation treatment of lung cancer in the world in 2000. China also carried out this treatment technology at the same time, and now it is the country with the largest number of cases of lung cancer treated by radiofrequency ablation in the world. Radiofrequency ablation for lung cancer can completely inactivate the tumor in one treatment for lesions with a diameter of less than 5cm. For middle and advanced lung cancer, as one of the multidisciplinary comprehensive treatments, it can prolong the patient’s disease progression free time (PFS) and improve the overall survival time (OS) through the inactivation of the tumor foci, the reduction of the tumor load, and the protection of the overall function of the organism. In addition to primary lung cancer, radiofrequency ablation has a better therapeutic effect on lung metastatic cancer, pleural tumors, metastases to the bones or soft tissues of the chest wall, and mediastinal tumors.