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Liver Tumor Ablation
Learning you have an inoperable liver tumor may leave you with many questions. Ablation gives many people a path forward. Henry Ford Health specialists are regional leaders in this minimally invasive treatment, so you have the best chances for excellent outcomes.
What is liver tumor ablation?
Ablation uses focused energy to destroy liver tumors. Its role in your treatment plan is different depending on the diagnosis:
- Primary liver cancer: We may use ablation as a stand-alone treatment for small tumors. For large tumors, it may be part of a comprehensive plan that includes additional therapies.
- Metastatic liver cancer (tumors that have spread to the liver from other areas): Ablation helps control small tumors that are easy to reach when surgery isn’t an option.
Why choose Henry Ford for liver tumor ablation?
We were one of the first programs in Michigan offering radiofrequency ablation for liver tumors. This depth of expertise continues to guide how we deliver care today.
The Henry Ford difference:
- Expertise: Highly skilled interventional radiologists perform your procedure. They do thousands of procedures each year, leading to an exceptional level of care. They work with trusted medical and surgical liver cancer specialists to tailor treatments to your needs.
- Coordination: Our extended team includes up to 25 providers who come together in weekly meetings called tumor boards. We ensure a seamless experience that includes all the testing you may need, a personalized treatment plan and thoughtful support. Meet our team.
- Combination therapies: Doctors may recommend ablation along with embolization for tumors that are too large or complex for ablation alone. Embolization cuts off the tumor’s blood supply and ablation destroys the tumor. We may use both approaches in the same procedure or separate sessions.
- Additional options: Ablation is one of many minimally invasive options we use to treat liver tumors. Even if the cancer is advanced or returns after treatment, you may still have options. We offer a variety of liver-directed procedures, including histotripsy and HAI pump therapy.
Types of ablation for primary and metastatic liver tumors
We guide a thin probe through the skin and use real-time imaging to access and destroy the tumor. The probe delivers different types of energy:
- Radiofrequency ablation involves heat from radio waves.
- Microwave ablation uses electromagnetic microwaves to create heat.
- Cryoablation delivers very cold gas to freeze the tumor.
- Histotripsy uses sound waves (focused ultrasound) to break up tumors.
Frequently asked questions: (FAQs) about liver tumor ablation
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What kinds of liver tumors respond best to ablation?Ablation works best for tumors that are small and limited in number. It can be used for primary liver cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as metastatic tumors that spread to the liver from other body areas, like the colon.
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Can ablation treat liver tumors that come back after surgery or other treatments?Yes. If a liver tumor returns after surgery, chemotherapy or another procedure, ablation may still be an option. We consider the size, number and location of the tumor(s) to determine whether ablation can safely target it.
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Can ablation be repeated if new liver tumors appear later?Yes. You can undergo ablation again if new liver tumors develop. Surgery has limits because only part of the liver can be safely removed and radiation therapy has lifetime limits. Ablation can often be delivered safely multiple times. We take your past treatments and overall health into account to decide if it’s right for you.