In radiofrequency ablation CT (computed tomography) is used to help guide a needle electrode into a cancerous tumor. High-frequency electrical currents are then passed through the electrode, creating heat that destroys the abnormal cells

Radiofrequency ablation is used to treat early-stage lung cancer and cancers that have spread into the lung from other areas of the body.

Radiofrequency ablation may be a treatment option if you wish to avoid conventional surgery or your lung function is not good enough to undergo surgery.

Radiofrequency ablation is not intended to replace surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy in all patients. It may be effective when used alone or in conjunction with these treatments.

Your doctors will have discussed the possible treatment options with the radiologist (X-ray doctor) responsible for performing these procedures.  There will be an opportunity for you to discuss the treatment, and be involved in making the decisions, with your doctors and with the radiologist. Please mention any allergies or other conditions you have. You will only be asked to sign a consent form after you have fully considered all the advice given. If you do not want to undergo this treatment, then the procedure will be taken no further.

You will be assessed in a clinic before your overnight admission and then admitted to hospital on the day of your treatment.

Most procedures will be performed with sedation and you can eat and drink before the procedure.

Occasionally a general anaesthetic may be required, in which case you will be told when to stop eating and drinking.

A small plastic cannula will be inserted into your arm to enable us to inject antibiotics and pain relief.

You will be asked to wear a hospital gown and will be taken to the X-ray department.

You will be asked to lie on the CT scanner table; your position will depend on the site of the tumour.

Monitoring equipment will be attached to you and oxygen given if required. 

You will be given an injection to help with pain relief and also help you feel more relaxed but you will be awake for the procedure. If you are in pain we can give you additional medication.

A CT scan will be performed to locate the tumour and your skin marked to localise the site. Your skin will be cleaned with antiseptic and local anaesthetic will be injected into the skin.

Local Anaesthetic:

Your radiologist will ask you to keep quite still while the injections are given.

You may notice a warm tingling feeling as the anaesthetic begins to take effect.

Your procedure will only go ahead when you and your radiologist are sure that the area is numb.

Your radiologist is always near to you and you can speak to him/her whenever you want to.

Using CT image guidance the radiologist will insert the needle through the skin to the site of the tumour. Once the needle is in the correct place radiofrequency energy is applied.

At the end of the procedure the needle is removed. The procedure may need to be repeated if the tumour is large or there is more than one tumour.

The length of time for the treatment will depend on the tumour but will be at least one hour.

There may be some discomfort during injection of the local anaesthetic but following this you should feel very little apart from some pushing. Pain relief will be given through the tube in your arm if required. Please let the Radiologist or nurse know if you feel any pain

On your return to the ward, you will stay in bed and the nurses will monitor you regularly for several hours.

You will then be able to gently move around the ward. You will stay in hospital overnight following the treatment.

If you have any new problems with your breathing once you have been discharged from hospital, please contact the hospital ward through the Newcastle Hospitals Switchboard [see below].

You will be advised by your Doctor when you will be seen in Clinic and a CT scan will be arranged a few months after your treatment.

The most common complication is a pneumothorax, a punctured lung, where the lung collapses away from the chest wall.  This occurs in about one third [30%] of patients. If there is a large amount of air collapsing the lung, a tube may be inserted to drain this air, only one in ten patients will need to have this performed.

There is often a very small amount of bleeding but very rarely significant bleeding needing blood transfusion or a small operation to block the bleeding artery.

The medication given for pain relief can occasionally cause you to feel sick or very drowsy. There will be a nurse or doctor monitoring you at all times and the effects of the medication can be reversed if necessary.

If your appointment time is not convenient please can you contact the hospital department that you are attending  so that a more appropriate time can be arranged.  This will enable us to reallocate valuable time to someone else.

Should you have any suggestions or concerns, please make these known to the person conducting your examination or by letter addressed to:

The Departmental Manager

Main X-ray Department

Freeman Hospital

High Heaton

Newcastle upon Tyne 

 NE7 7DN

Tel: (0191) 2821099

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm

All Newcastle Hospitals: Switchboard Tel: (0191) 233 6161 (24 hours)

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can offer on-the-spot advice and information about the NHS.  You can contact them on freephone 0800 032 02 02 or email northoftynepals@nhct.nhs.uk.