Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) and Microwave Ablation (MWA) are therapies that use image guidance to insert a needle into a liver tumor through the skin. High-frequency electrical currents are sent through an electrode in the needle during RFA, resulting in a tiny zone of heat. Microwaves are generated from the needle in MWA to create a small zone of heat. The heat kills the cancer cells in the liver. RFA and MWA are excellent therapeutic choices for individuals who are unable to undergo surgery or have tumor’s that are less than one and a half inches in diameter. Small liver tumors can be entirely removed with a success rate of more than 85%. The amount of heat produced is determined by the intensity of the radiation, the electrical characteristics of the exposed tissue, and the body's thermoregulatory mechanism. There is no evidence that microwaves cause cancer. Microwave ovens employ microwave radiation to heat food, however this does not imply that the food becomes radioactive as a result. Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules to vibrate, which causes the food to heat up. There is no evidence that microwaves cause cancer.
