Radiofrequency Ablation of Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation is a palliative treatment alternative that shows promise in addressing the challenges of local control and quality of life in patients with incurable HNC who have failed standard curative treatment.

Preliminary Results in Unresectable Head and Neck Cancer Treated by Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation: Feasibility, Efficacy, and Safety

“…Thermoablation currently should not be considered as an alternative to potentially curative salvage treatment options in advanced HNC, but it can improve the quality of life of individuals with intractable pain, as was present in all patients described here (2,16,25). In fact, the analysis of quality-of-life indicators confirmed a significant improvement of symptoms and social functioning at 6 months.…”

“…This anatomic region is difficult to reach surgically, and any approach must be undertaken with great care and consideration of the proximities of multiple cranial nerves, major vessels, and aerodigestive structures (16,25,26). RF ablation of the head and neck is principally described in the treatment of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, but also in primary and recurrent HNC and in cervical nodal metastasis (11)(12)(13). However, only a few studies have been published regarding the use of MW ablation for HNC (14,15).…”

Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the nasal septum treated with palliative radiofrequency ablation

“…In primary and metastatic HCC, a favourable survival rate with radiofrequency ablation has been reported. In their clinical experience, Owen et al reported 21 patients with recurrent and/or unresectable head and neck cancers who failed treatment; the authors concluded that radiofrequency ablation is a promising palliative treatment alternative . In our case, radiofrequency ablation was chosen as a palliative treatment modality for a metastatic septal mass because radiofrequency ablation is simple and less invasive, and repeated ablation is possible.…”

“…Treatments for sinonasal metastatic lesions include palliative radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy and transcatheter embolization to control nasal bleeding. 5 In our case, radiofrequency ablation was chosen as a palliative treatment modality for a metastatic septal mass because radiofrequency ablation is simple and less invasive, and repeated ablation is possible. Radiotherapy can be the initial modality, but it requires a long duration of treatment, 2,3 and the discontinuation of radiotherapy sometimes can occur because of the rapid deterioration of patients' general condition, as in Lin et al's case.…”

Percutaneous Image-Guided Cryoablation of Head and Neck Tumors for Local Control, Preservation of Functional Status, and Pain Relief

“…Percutaneous image-guided cryoablation offers a potentially less morbid minimally-invasive treatment option compared to salvage head and neck surgery, which has complication rates of 13% to 40% (1), potentially fewer long-term side effects compared to radiation therapy, which results in a 43% rate of impaired speech and swallowing (9), and potentially fewer severe complications as reported with heat-based ablative techniques, including carotid blowout, stroke, and death (18,19) due to superior visualization of the region of ablation using the ice ball as an ablation zone proxy and due to the inherent protection of vascular structures and spinal cord by warm flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid. For these reasons, at our institution we are currently using cryoablation as the exclusive thermal ablation modality to treat head, neck, and spine tumors, which are typically adjacent or close to critical central nervous system and vascular structures.…”