Chicago—Preliminary studies of several new devices that use heat or cold to kill certain cancer cells have shown promise, but whether all these methods will remain viable or a different one will emerge superior remains a question.
Data highlighted at the Scientific Assembly of the Radiological Society of North America in November showed positive results from using radiofrequency ablation to treat kidney tumors, cryosurgery to destroy prostate cancer tumors, and external beam radiation to augment surgical removal of breast cancer tumors.
The common thread among all these methods is the attempt to treat cancer in minimal or noninvasive ways to reduce time and cost, avoid destruction of nearby healthy tissue, and improve morbidity and mortality.
"The biggest thing coming into play is time—how large a lesion can you treat in the shortest amount of time," said Damian E. Dupuy, MD, of Brown University School of Medicine, a . . . [Full Text of this Article]
