Microwave Tissue Ablation
An advanced medical system for the coagulation of soft tissue
What is Thermal Ablation?
Thermal ablation or heat has been used in medical procedures for over a decade. This method of destroying unwanted tissue has been used to treat cancerous lesions or tumors in the liver, lung, kidney, prostate and bone. Thermal Ablation has also been used in cardiac and gynecological procedures. The most common methods of thermal ablation are Laser Ablation, Radiofrequency Ablation and more recently Microwave Ablation. Laser Ablation uses light energy to create heat and destroy tissue. Radiofrequency Ablation uses a form of electrical energy to cause heating and destroying tissue.
The Acculis MTA System
The Acculis MTA System was developed between 2001 and 2005 by a team from Microsulis, the University of Bath Department of Physics and Leicester Royal Infirmary. The system was CE marked in 2005 and received clearance to be marketed in the USA in 2006. The system is unique in that it uses specialised patented microwave antenna designs that achieve the very high levels of microwave energy deposition into tissue needed to quickly and effectively coagulate unwanted areas of soft tissue.
About the Procedure
Your doctor will discuss with you the surgical preparation and the type of anesthesia to be used for your surgery.
Your doctor will use Ultrasound or CT guidance to accurately guide the microwave applicator into the centre of the area of tissue to be treated.
Once the doctor is satisfied with the applicator's position into the target area he/she will start the microwave generator. The generator will deliver microwave energy to the applicator at the energy level selected by the doctor. The doctor will predetermine the length of time that the energy is applied for based on the size of the area that is to be destroyed. Usually only a few minutes are required to destroy the targeted tissue.
If there are several areas of tissue to be targeted the doctor will repeat this process for each area. Several areas of tissue can be coagulated during the same operation.
After the procedure your doctor will arrange to see you to discuss your post-operative care and outpatient follow-up.
They will also want to perform follow-up CT scans every 3-6 months to check on your progress.
Is Microwave Tissue Ablation for me?
Your doctor will determine whether an ablative therapy is appropriate to treat your condition. Microsulis Microwave Tissue Ablation is a new system for coagulating unwanted soft tissue. It is not suitable for everyone and depends on your particular circumstances. The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance for the use of Microwave Ablation by doctors for liver tumours.
You can visit the NICE website to read their detailed guidance: www.nice.org.uk
How Microwave Tissue Ablation Works
Microwave coagulation involves destroying tissue with heat. The MTA system uses a slender rod-shaped applicator that delivers a controlled amount of microwave energy into the target tissue. This takes approximately 2- 4 minutes. The heat that is generated by the microwave applicator kills the cells within the target tissue. No serious side effects are likely with an MTA procedure, although unexpected problems can occur. Your doctor can provide further details about any potential side effects.
Microwaves are a unique and rapid way of heating tissue. Microwaves are absorbed by the tissue creating heat by interacting with the water in the tissue. The microwaves decay away to nothing inside the area of tissue. This ensures that the area of heating is very controlled and precise.
