Image-guided tumour ablation is a rapidly evolving and exciting minimally-invasive treatment for cancer. It has been facilitated by the huge developments that have been made in imaging technologies such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These have made it possible to diagnose and direct treatment to areas deep inside the body. Alongside this, a huge amount of research has been conducted into how energy can be precisely delivered to destroy tumours while sparing surrounding healthy tissue – the goal of all cancer therapy.
Image-guided ablation includes radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation and image guided cryoablation and it can be used to treat many different types of cancer effectively and with precision.
Consultant Interventional Radiologist and Kidney Cancer Expert Dr Rowland Illing, who specialises in image-guided cancer therapy, says: “Our ability to visualise and treat areas deep inside the body with very precise ablative therapy is a very important addition to cancer treatment.”
