Information for the public
The procedure
The procedure
The aim of microwave ablation is to destroy the cancer cells using heat, and to do as little damage as possible to nearby normal tissue. The procedure is done using local or general anaesthetic. It is done through a small hole in the skin or by open surgery. A probe is inserted into the tumour, using imaging to guide it, and microwave energy is passed through the probe to heat and destroy the cancer cells. This can be repeated if there is more than 1 tumour, or for large tumours.