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Tumour Ablation
Minimally Invasive Cancer Treatment Alternative
What is Tumour Ablation?
This is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat solid cancers. It is the direct application of thermal energy or chemicals to a tumour for the purpose of eradication or substantial destruction. Radiological imaging is used to guide and position a special needle into the tumour. This is a percutaneous procedure, meaning it requires only a tiny hole, usually less than 3mm in which the needle is inserted.
Most Effective on the Following Types of Cancer:
- Liver
- Kidney
- Lung
- Bone
- As well as cancers that have metastasized in these areas.
Surgery or Ablation?
Patients that are not suitable for surgery can have tumour ablation as a safer alternative that can be either palliative or curative for their symptoms. Also, small tumours, can be effectively treated with tumour ablation preventing a much more invasive surgery. Ablation can dramatically shrink the size of a tumour, and for those that are 3cm or less in diameter has been an effective means of complete treatment, meaning that no residual cancer is present.
Common Techniques
There are a variety of tumour ablation methods, be they through thermal or chemical sources. The most common are:
- Radiofrequency Ablation: high-frequency electrical currents are passed through an electrode in the needle, creating a small region of heat to kill the tumour
- Microwave Ablation: microwaves are created from the needle to create a small region of heat killing the tumour
- Cryoablation: liquid nitrogen or argon gas is used to create intense cold to freeze and kill the tumour
- Chemical Ablation: chemicals such as ethanol or acetic acid are directly injected into the tumour
Access
A 2014 study looking at hospitals in Ontario identified that under 45% of hospitals offered Tumour Ablation, meanwhile 75% of hospitals would be willing to provide those services if the appropriate funding was provided. The hospitals that did offer ablation procedures were focused in the Toronto area and in Southwest Ontario.
Benefits
- Cancer treatment for patients who aren’t cleared for surgery
- High level of success
- Short recovery time
- Proven results
Poster
List of facilities
ALBERTA
Calgary
Foothills Hospital
1403 29th St NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N2T9
Canada
Dr. Jason Wong
Phone: 403-944-4634
Email: wongjk@ucalgary.ca
Type of Ablative Procedures:
- Liver
- Bone
- Soft tissue
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Vancouver
Vancouver Island Health Authority
1 Hospital Way
Victoria, British Columbia V8Z6R5
Canada
Dr. Vamshi Kotha
Phone: 250-370-8000 ext. 14208
Email: vamshikotha@gmail.com
Type of Ablative Procedures:
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
- Bone
- Soft tissue
NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax
QEII Health Sciences Centre
VGH, Victoria Building – 3rd floor North Wing, Dept of Radiology, 1276 South Park Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4B2
Canada
Dr. Mike Rivers-Bowerman
Phone: 902-473-5477
Fax: 902-425-6199
Email: michael.rivers-bowerman@nshealth.ca
Website: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/radiology/contact/faculty/mike-rivers-bowerman.html
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Kidney
ONTARIO
Barrie
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
201 Georgian Drive
Barrie, Ontario L4M6M2
Canada
Dr. Arshdeep Sidhu
Phone: 905-728-9802
Email: asidhu@wedi.ca
Website: https://georgianvit.com
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
- Bone
- Soft tissue
Toronto
Humber River Hospital
1235 Wilson Ave
Toronto, Ontario M3M0B2
Canada
Dr. Edwin Zhang
Phone: 416-242-1000 ext 63311
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
- Bone
- Soft tissue
Toronto General Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital
585 University Avenue, 1-PMB-294
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2N2
Dr. John Kachura
Phone: 416-340-4800 ext. 6779
Fax: 416-593-0502
Email: john.kachura@uhn.ca
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
- Bone
- Soft tissue
Windsor
Windsor Regional Hospital
1030 Ouellette Ave
Windsor, Ontario N9A 1E1
Canada
Dr. Matthew Rochon
Phone: 519-254-5577 ext 31330
Email: matthewrochon@gmail.com
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
QUEBEC
Montreal
CHUM
1090 rue de Bleury
Montreal, Quebec H2Z0B7
Canada
Dr. Ricardo Holderbaum do Amaral
Phone: 514-659-3543
Email: rh.doamaral@gmail.com
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Kidney
- Bone
- Soft tissue
CHUM
1000 St-Denis
Montreal, Quebec H2X 0C1
Canada
Dr. Jean-Sebastien Billiard
Phone: 514-890-8000
Email: js.billiard@umontreal.ca
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
- Bone
- Soft tissue
Hôpital Sacré Coeur de Montréal
5400 Boul Gouin O
Montreal, Quebec H4J 1C5
Canada
Dr. Ahmed Bentridi
Phone: 514-338-2222 ext 2844
Email: ahmedbentridi@yahoo.fr
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
- Soft tissue
SASKATCHEWAN
Royal University Hospital
103 Hospital Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan s4n0w8
Canada
Dr. Robert Otani
Phone: 306-655-2371
Fax: 306-655-6304
Email: robert.otani@saskhealthauthority.ca
Type of ablative procedures:
- Liver