Ablation therapy is generally used to eliminate or ablate cancerous tumors. In this procedure, extremely high or low temperature is delivered to the tumors directly, using special probes. The device is guided to the target location with the help of computer monitoring and the surgeons use very cold or hot liquids to treat the affected area. By applying extremely high or low temperatures, doctors can remove one or more layers of tissue.

Types of ablation therapy
Various procedures fall under ablation therapy as a whole. Some of the methods used in this treatment are:

• Cryoablation
  Also called cryosurgery or cryotherapy, this procedure involves inserting a special probe into the target site. The tumor is then cooled down to below-freezing temperatures with liquid nitrogen or argon. This causes the formation of ice crystals at the probe tip that destroys the cancerous tissue.
• Radiofrequency ablation or RFA
  Mainly used for small tumors, the procedure is carried out by transmitting high-energy radio waves through a thin probe. It is inserted through the skin and the high-frequency current heats the tumor, destroying the cancerous cells.
• Microwave ablation or MWA
  This form of ablation makes use of electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic energy destroys the tumor by heating it. Ultrasounds, Computed Tomography (CT), or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are used to determine the infected area.
• Ethanol ablation
  Also known as PEI, this procedure involves inserting ethanol directly into the tumor. This causes malignant cells to get damaged.
• Thermal balloon ablation
  This procedure uses a balloon and involves a more invasive approach. After being inserted into the body cavity at the affected area, the balloon is gradually filled with heated fluid at temperatures up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. This destroys the cancer cells.
• Laser ablation
  In this procedure, laser light is used for treating lesions or skin discolorations.

Procedure
Ablation therapy has various stages. First, a diagnostic block is used to establish the level of pain and the source. This can then help predict the potential pain relief level.

During the main ablation therapy stage, initially, the patient will be laid on the stomach on a special X-ray table. This mainly helps the healthcare provider to monitor the patient’s condition, so one will need to stay awake to respond to any questions. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area from where a catheter is to be inserted. The probe is inserted, guided by fluoroscopy, a special real-time continuous X-ray. After that, the doctor will confirm its proper positioning through a test.

The surgeon will ask the patient about a muscle twitch, discomfort, or a tingling sensation. If it is felt, it means that the treatment location is correct. The target area is then numbed with a local anesthetic. The subsequent ablation helps destroy the nerve area, stopping any pain signals to the brain from there. Through this, multiple nerves can be targeted as per the condition’s severity.

Which conditions can be treated with ablation therapy?
Ablation therapy is used to treat different health conditions, such as:

• Various types of cancer
• Skin discolorations
• Heart arrhythmia
• Skin lesions
• Heavy menstrual bleeding.

Ablation therapy is a less risky procedure. It rarely causes bleeding from the puncture area, infection, scarring, or blood vessel damage.