Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

For situations in which surgical removal of tumors is not possible, there is a new option that can increase the physician's ability to target the lesion more precisely, focusing the effect on the cancerous or unwanted tissues and minimizing the destruction of healthy tissues. The advent of this new procedure, called radiofrequency ablation (RFA), promises to increase the options for eradicating lesions while reducing the risks and side effects associated with other options or procedures.

Two technologies come together in RFA. With CT or ultrasound imaging, the physician can precisely identify the lesions. High frequency radio waves, produced by alternating current, are then used to apply heat to destroy the lesion cells with great accuracy. It is this combined technological precision that allows the physician to more accurately target the lesion, and at the same time, reduce collateral damage to healthy tissue.

Breast Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
A sentinel lymph node biopsy involves removing the lymph node that specifically drains the cancer in the breast. A sentinel lymph node biopsy involves injecting a small amount of blue dye and radioactive tracer in and around the tumor. This involves less radiation than getting a chest X-ray and can be performed on patients who have already had a biopsy.
The sentinel lymph node (think of it as a gatekeeper lymph node at the entrance to the other lymph nodes under the arm) is then identified under the arm using a hand-held Geiger counter and removed, leaving the remaining lymph nodes. The sentinel lymph node is then extensively examined and, if no cancer is found, there is no need for further surgery. The sentinel lymph node can be applied to certain types of skin cancers such as melanoma.