What is Microwave Ablation?
In microwave ablation (MWA), a needle is inserted through the skin into a liver tumor, microwaves are generated from the needle to create a small heat zone, this heat destroys liver cancer cells.
Is Cancer Treatment Possible Without Surgery?
Microwave ablation (MWA) is an effective treatment option when surgery is not possible or for patients with tumors less than 4 cm in diameter and fewer than 5 tumors.
Who Should You Contact?
It is a method applied by experts who have specialized in Interventional Radiology and are experienced in Microwave ablation (MWA). If you are likely to be pregnant, you should inform your Interventional Radiology specialist about your chronic ailments, special medical conditions, allergies and medications.
What should you pay attention to before the procedure?
Your doctor will explain to you in detail the necessary procedures, the preparations you need to make and the points you need to pay attention to, although it differs for each patient; He or she may recommend that you stop taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or blood thinners a few days beforehand. You may be instructed not to eat or drink anything for several hours before the procedure. It is recommended that you leave your jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothes. You may be asked to wear an apron. You should make the necessary planning, thinking that someone will need to drive you home later.
How is Microwave Ablation Method Applied?
In the images below
These are the images before and after the Microwave Ablation procedure for liver metastasis of a breast cancer patient. In the first image, while the tumor is clearly glowing on PET, we see dead cancer tissue that has left its place to a dark color after the glowing tumor after the Microwave Ablation procedure. Our patient successfully got rid of the tumor tissue.
In these images, as you can see in the photos of our colon cancer metastasis patient before and after the Microwave Ablation procedures, when the tumor tissue is heated with the inserted microwave needle, the air bubbles appear as whitening on ultrasound. When the lesion turns white all around, it is observed that it is completely heated and cooked, so to speak. The blackness in the middle of the tomography shows air vapor as a result of destruction, and the area that turns black according to PET images shows dead cancer tissue.
