Vascular & Interventional Radiology

MICROWAVE ABLATION

Microwave ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for tumors which is very similar to radiofrequency ablation. Radiofrequency ablation uses alternating radiofrequency energy to destroy tumors, and microwave ablation utilizes microwave energy for the same purpose.

In this procedure, a needle is guided with imaging through the skin to the tumor. Microwave energy is transmitted through the tip of the needle into the tumor, producing enough heat to damage the tumor tissue causing it to shrink slowly and form a scar over time.