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| |  Radiofrequency Ablation Safe, Effective for Reducing Pain From Bone Metastases PHILADELPHIA -- January 4, 2010 -- Image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) significantly reduces the level of pain experienced by cancer patients with bone metastases, limiting the need for strong narcotic pain management, and supporting improved patient frame of mind, according to a study published online in the journal Cancer. “It is clear that improved palliative treatments must be identified to address the needs of these great many patients,” said principal investigator Damian Dupuy, MD, Rhode Island Hospital, and Diagnostic Imaging at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. “RFA is widely available, covered by most insurance, can be performed in a single outpatient session and often allows patients enhanced interaction with loved ones by reducing use of strong narcotics which can leave them in a medicated state. Also, unlike many other cancer pain management treatments, RFA can be repeated and maintain similar results.” The researchers studied 55 patients who had a single painful bone metastasis. Each received computed tomography (CT) guided RFA of the tumour. Patients evaluated their pain prior to treatment, then daily for 2 weeks following the procedure, and again at 1 month and 3 months after RFA. The study results showed statistically significant pain reduction at the 1- and 3-month follow-ups for all pain assessment measurements: pain relief, intensity, and severity. In all cases, improvement was seen for each measurement, including patient mood, with the most improvement at the 1-month interval. “We know that RFA is a highly effective cancer treatment when surgery is not an option,” said Dr. Dupuy. “RFA offers potential advantages over other methods in that cell death is immediate, lesion size can be accurately controlled, lesion temperature can be monitored, and it can be performed under local anaesthesia and conscious sedation in the outpatient setting. This is a significant step forward in the pain management of these patients.” The procedure was found to be safe with few adverse events. RFA can be an alternative for patients who previously received radiation therapy and have reached their maximum radiation dose, but are still experiencing pain. “Despite advances in radiation technology and development of new medical manipulations, too many cancer patients still experience pain associated with their disease,” said Thomas DiPetrillo, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “This study demonstrates the palliative benefits of RFA with minimal treatment-related morbidity. Oncologists have another tool for the management of cancer pain.”
SOURCE: American College of Radiology/American Roentgen Ray Society
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