Liver cancer ablation

Tumour ablation means destroying the tumour by applying heat, cold or alcohol directly to it. For liver cancer ablation can be used to treat small tumours, usually smaller than 4cm across.

It may be used:

• instead of surgery for small tumours
• if you cannot have surgery, or choose not to have surgery
• after other treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.

Tumour ablation can be done:

• during a laparoscopy
• during a liver resection
• as an injection with a needle through the skin (percutaneously).

Your liver specialist will explain whether this type of treatment may be suitable for you. If your doctor thinks ablation may help you, they can refer you to a hospital that does this treatment. Ablation treatments are only available in some specialist hospitals, so you may have to travel for treatment.

Ablation is usually done under a general anaesthetic. The doctor puts a fine needle through the skin over the liver and into the centre of each tumour. They use an ultrasound or CT scan to guide them to treat the tumours using ablation:

• Radiofrequency, microwave or laser ablation produces heat, which passes through the needle and into the tumour.
• Irreversible electroporation uses a high voltage current to destroy tumours. It does not heat the nearby tissue and so is useful for tumours that are close to vessels or bile ducts.
• Cryotherapy produces very low temperatures, which freeze the tumour.

You may need to stay in hospital overnight. Afterwards, you will have 1 to 3 tiny holes in your tummy area (abdomen). These usually heal quickly. You usually have a CT scan a few weeks after ablation to see how well it has worked.

The side effects of ablation are usually mild and may last up to a week. You may have pain in the liver area. You can control this by taking regular painkillers. Other side effects include:

• a fever (high temperature)
• tiredness
• feeling generally unwell.

These side effects happen because the body is getting rid of the cells that have been destroyed. Try to drink plenty of fluids and get enough rest. Your doctor or nurse may ask you to contact the hospital if your temperature:

• does not go back to normal after a few days
• goes above 38°C.

These may be signs that you have an infection.