How To Prevent And Treat Kidney Cancer

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation may be used in kidney cancer patients who are ineligible for a nephrectomy. Surgery is almost always the preferred first-line treatment for kidney malignancy, but health circumstances may make it intangible for some patients. During this outpatient procedure, imaging methods such as ultrasound and CT scans are used to locate a patient's tumor. A thin probe is inserted percutaneously or through the skin into the kidney tumor. Once the surgeon has it in the correct place, an electric current that uses high-energy radio waves is passed to the tumor. These high-energy radio waves produce heat that permanently damages and destroys the malignant cells that make up the kidney tumor. This treatment method allows for minimal damage to neighboring tissues, unlike methods such as surgery and chemotherapy. Most patients can return home on the same day as their radiofrequency ablation procedure, and major complications are rare. Because this method is newer, there is less research on its effectiveness in treating kidney cancer.

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