# Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/radiofrequency-ablation/  
OnCo record `radiofrequency-ablation` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Killing a tumour by heating it with an electrical current through a needle placed under image guidance, without removing it.

## Summary

A probe delivers alternating current that heats tissue above 60°C, coagulating tumours up to about 3 cm. Standard for small hepatocellular carcinomas (equivalent to resection under 2-3 cm), colorectal liver metastases, small kidney tumours in comorbid patients, lung nodules, and Barrett's oesophagus after endoscopic resection. Limitations are the heat-sink effect near large vessels and incomplete ablation of larger lesions, which microwave ablation partly overcomes.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-09
- Also known as: RFA; radiofrequency; thermal ablation; ablated; ablative

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiofrequency_ablation
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiofrequency_ablation

## Connected records

- terms: [Barrett's oesophagus](https://onco.cc/terms/barretts-esophagus/), [Cryoablation](https://onco.cc/terms/cryoablation/), [Liver-directed therapy (TACE, TARE, HAI, ablation)](https://onco.cc/terms/liver-directed-therapy/), [Microwave ablation (MWA)](https://onco.cc/terms/microwave-ablation/)
- cancers: [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Early hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC 0 and A)](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc-early/), [Hepatocellular carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc/), [Renal cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/rcc/)
- fronts: [Surgery & Interventional](https://onco.cc/fronts/surgery/)
- technologies: [Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo)](https://onco.cc/technologies/thermal-ablation/)
- trials: [CLOCC](https://onco.cc/trials/clocc/)

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