Terminology » 5 Key Advantages and disadvantages of Microwave Ablation

5 Key Advantages and disadvantages of Microwave Ablation

microwave ablation

Introduction : It is minimally invasive medical treatment. It uses microwave energy in the range from 300 MHz to 3 GHz for the treatment. It is used to destroy abnormal tissues such as tumors. It’s commonly used in treating liver, kidney, lung and bone cancers.

How Microwave ablation works

Following steps describe microwave ablation procedure followed on patient under treatment.

  1. A thin antenna/probe is inserted into the tumor; guided by ultrasound, CT or MRI imaging. The same is also shown in the figure-1 below.

  2. The probe delivers microwave energy into the tissue.

  3. The microwaves cause water molecules in the cells to vibrate rapidly due to production of frictional heat.

  4. This heat is typically in the range from 60 to 150 °C. The heat causes coagulative necrosis which effectively destroys the targeted cancerous cells.

  5. The dead tissue is gradually absorbed by the body over time.

Microwave ablation Image alt: Microwave ablation

Advantages of Microwave Ablation

Following are some of the benefits of microwave ablation.

  1. It offers higher efficiency compared to RF ablation. It heats tissue faster.
  2. It is less affected by tissue properties. Works well even in tissues with higher impedance such as lungs or bones.
  3. It is minimally invasive i.e. requires only small probe insertion.
  4. It can be performed under CT, ultrasound or MRI for precise targeting.
  5. It requires very short hospital stay.

Disadvantages of Microwave Ablation

Following are some of the drawbacks of microwave ablation.

  1. It is only effective for small to medium sized tumors. Not suitable for widespread cancer.
  2. It can cause bleeding, infection or damage to nearby structures such as vessels, nerves if not operated with care.
  3. The procedure requires specialized equipments and exoertise which is not available in all the hospitals.
  4. Used mostly for palliative care or local control, especially in patients not fit for surgery.
  5. It is expensive procedure.

Conclusion: A Microwave Ablation system is a powerful tool in cancer treatment, especially for patients who cannot undergo surgery. It offers fast, effective and minimally invasive treatment, but is limited to localized tumors and requires expertise to minimize risks.