Ablative Therapies for Breast Disease

Question 1

How does cryoablation work?

Answer 1

Uses argon gas to freeze and destroy tumor cells. The distribution of necrosis is uniform and symmetric around the cryoprobe.

Question 2

What is the maximum diameter of the freeze zone for cryoablation?

Answer 2

4 cm

Question 3

If the lesion is close to the skin, what measures can be taken to protect the skin from freezing?

Answer 3

Inject saline subcutaneously to distance skin from cryo zone, or warm skin with room temperature saline to continuously throughout the procedure.

Question 4

What happens with breast tissue with extreme cold?

Answer 4

The extreme cold anesthetizes breast tissue. Thus, little local anesthetic is needed when performing cryoablation.

Question 5

Cryoablation is approved to treat what breast disease?

Answer 5

Fibroadenomas

Question 6

Does cryoablation affect mammogram interpretation after the procedure?

Answer 6

No. This was not found in the fibroadenoma cryoablation registry (444 patients - all treated with cryoablaton for their fibroadenomas)

Question 7

What is the size limit for cryoablation of breast cancers?

Answer 7

< 2 cm

Question 8

What does ablative therapy heavily rely upon to work?

Answer 8

Accurate assessment of disease by imaging and large-core needle biopsy

Question 9

How does radiofrequency ablation work?

Answer 9

Application of thermal energy from a metallic multiarray probe that is generated by high-frequency alternating electric currents that create electromagnetic waves that agitate ions in adjacent tissue. Result: Intense heat, and eventual necrosis of tissue.