Electric Treatment is one of the innovative methods now used in modern cancer therapy. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in developed countries, and many new treatment methods are available to improve both survival and comfort. Most cancer patients fear surgery almost as much as the cancer itself. Image-guided therapies such as Electric Treatment have become an important step in cancer management, offering significant advantages in patient comfort while effectively destroying cancerous cells. Tumors in the liver, kidney, lung, and certain bones can be treated using ablation techniques. Interventional Radiologist Prof. Dr. Adem Uçar from Liv Hospital Radiology Clinic explains these methods in detail.
Which Specialists Decide Interventional Treatment?
All these treatments are determined through a multidisciplinary approach that involves not only the interventional radiology specialist but also a team of doctors who diagnose and manage the treatment. This team includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, general surgeons, nuclear medicine specialists, urologists, chest disease specialists, and gastroenterology specialists. Together, they evaluate whether Electric Treatment or another image-guided method is most appropriate for each patient.
What Methods Are Used?
These procedures can be classified into two groups: ablation and embolization. Ablation methods include radiofrequency, cryo, microwaves, and electroporation. Using digital image-guided tomography or ultrasonography, special needles are placed inside the tumor tissue. Tumor tissue is destroyed by heating (in radiofrequency and microwave techniques) or by freezing (in cryoablation technique).
In the electroporation procedure a recent form of Electric Treatment—electrical current is applied to the tumor using fine needles. The current damages the tumor tissue by disrupting cell membranes while protecting surrounding healthy tissues. This method is especially valuable for cancers located close to vital structures such as vessels, bile ducts, or urinary canals. These ablation methods, including Electric Treatment, are now performed in leading cancer centers worldwide and show results comparable to surgery for tumors under 5 cm in diameter.
How Is It Performed?
During an ablation procedure, local anesthesia and pain medication are given before a needle is guided to the tumor using tomography or ultrasonography, allowing the tumor to be destroyed. The embolization procedure is performed in an angiography room, where access is gained through the pelvic artery. Thin tubes are navigated to the section of the liver artery that supplies blood to the tumor, and then occluding particles, chemotherapy drugs, or locally irradiating atoms are injected.
Thanks to Electric Treatment and other minimally invasive methods, most patients do not require hospitalization and recover quickly.
What Should Patients Expect After The Procedure?
Patients are typically monitored in the hospital for one day after the procedure. Most are able to resume their normal daily activities within a few days. Those treated with Electric Treatment often experience minimal discomfort and faster return to work compared to traditional surgery.
Which Patients Are Eligible For This Procedure?
These procedures can be used to treat tumors in the liver, kidney, lung, soft tissue, and certain benign bone tumors, such as osteoid osteoma.
Who Are Most Suitable For The Treatment?
Only about 15–20% of liver cancer patients are eligible for surgery. Many have tumors that are too large or numerous for surgical removal, or they have additional health issues such as cirrhosis, lung disease, or heart disease—that make surgery risky. Ablation methods like Electric Treatment are typically used for up to five tumors smaller than 4 cm. Larger tumors generally require embolization techniques. These treatments can destroy or shrink tumors to make later surgical removal possible.
What Are The Advantages of These Methods?
- No general anesthesia required
- No large surgical incision or wound
- Short procedure duration
- Quick return to daily activities
- Minimal pain
- Lower cost compared to conventional surgery
Electric Treatment combines precision, safety, and comfort helping patients recover faster and maintain a better quality of life.
This content was prepared with contributions from the Liv Hospital Editorial Board.
The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment. This content does not include guidance on medicinal healthcare at Liv Hospital.
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