Radiofrequency ablation in Uni-asia Cancer hospital

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) at Uni-asia Cancer Hospital in Chengdu, China, offers a minimally invasive way to treat solid tumors. This procedure is a primary choice for small liver and lung cancers, using high-frequency current to destroy malignant cells. The treatment is led by a team of interventional oncologists who have performed 100,000+ procedures each, providing a level of expertise found in few centers worldwide.

How Radiofrequency Ablation Works

The procedure uses high-frequency alternating current to heat tumor tissue. A thin needle electrode is inserted through the skin and guided by ultrasound or CT imaging directly into the tumor. The current causes ions in the tissue to oscillate, creating friction and raising temperatures to between 60°C and 100°C. This heat causes coagulative necrosis, which kills the cancer cells while leaving a needle-sized puncture. The thermal energy also seals nearby blood vessels, which reduces the risk of bleeding during the process.

Customized Tumor Treatment

Doctors at Uni-asia Cancer Hospital choose from different electrode types based on the size and shape of the tumor. These include single electrodes, clustered electrodes, and expandable umbrella-shaped electrodes. This flexibility allows the medical team to treat solitary or multiple tumors, typically up to 5 cm in size. The hospital uses RFA for several conditions:

• Early-stage liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Liver metastases from other organs
• Primary and metastatic lung cancers
• Renal cancers and osteoid osteomas
• Palliative care to reduce tumor size when surgery is not possible

Expert Oncology Team

The interventional oncology department is led by specialists with decades of clinical practice. Prof. Dr. Xiao Yueyong serves as the Inaugural President of the World Ablation Therapy Association and helped establish tumor ablation standards in China. Prof. Dr. Liao Zhengyin, a senior visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins Hospital, has performed 100,000+ procedures and focuses on improving survival rates for complex liver tumors. Prof. Dr. Zhang Jinshan adds to this expertise with 50,000+ procedures performed, having pioneered advanced vascular and radiological techniques in China.

Recovery and Benefits

Because RFA is a percutaneous procedure, it does not require large incisions. Patients typically experience a rapid recovery and a short hospital stay compared to traditional open surgery. The hospital provides a full platform for tumor destruction, combining RFA with other methods like NanoKnife and cryoablation when needed. You can request a consultation through Bookimed to learn more about your eligibility for this treatment.