What Is Minimally Invasive Cancer Treatment?
Surgical interventions are commonly performed for the treatment of cancers. It is usually employed for the excision of the tumor, removal, or replacement of tissues. These are called invasive procedures. Minimally invasive procedures encompass a surgical approach using less invasive cancer therapy instruments. The major advantage of the minimally invasive approach is that it offers shorter recovery times with less pain compared to traditional invasive procedures. This is attributed to the employing of smaller incisions to perform these surgeries.
Why Is Minimally Invasive Cancer Techniques a Preferred Treatment Approach In Cancer Therapy?
The advantages of minimally invasive surgery are as listed:
- In minimally invasive techniques, a small or percutaneous incision is made to reach the affected tissue or organ. Due to the small size of the incision, the chances of infections are greatly reduced. This again helps with the prognosis and reduces the recovery time post-procedure.
- Another advantage of minimally invasive surgical approaches is that other cancer therapies, including radiation therapy or chemotherapy, are not stopped or interrupted by this procedure.
What Are the Various Minimally Invasive Cancer Treatment Techniques?
Some of the common approaches in minimally invasive cancer treatments are as listed:
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Image-Guided Biopsy: This process employs imaging methods to direct the insertion of a needle or other tiny tool into the tumor and collect samples for analysis, such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): High-frequency electrical currents are used in this procedure to produce heat and kill cancer cells. It involves utilizing an imaging-guided tiny needle or probe to enter the tumor and administering heat to kill tumor cells by raising their temperature to a lethal level.
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Microwave Ablation: Similar to RFA, microwave ablation employs microwave radiation rather than electrical currents to cause tissue to be destroyed. The heat produced by microwaves causes the tumor to heat up, killing the cancer cells.
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Cryoablation: To kill cancer cells, the tumor tissue is frozen during cryoablation. In order to freeze and destroy the cancer cells during the process, a needle-like probe is introduced into the tumor and circulated with extremely cold gases or liquids.
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Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): PDT combines a photosensitizing agent and a specific wavelength of light to destroy cancer cells. The photosensitizing agent is administered systemically or topically and selectively accumulates in tumor cells. When exposed to the appropriate light source, the agent produces toxic oxygen species that kill the cancer cells.
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High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): HIFU is a technique in which tumor tissue is heated and destroyed using focused ultrasound pulses. By carefully targeting the tumor with high-energy ultrasonic waves, cancer cells are thermally destroyed while surrounding healthy tissues are left unharmed.
What Are the Various Approaches Employed in Minimally Invasive Cancer Therapy?
There are mainly two minimally invasive techniques used in interventional oncology. They are as listed:
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Local treatments.
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Regional therapies.
1. Local Treatments:
Local surgical treatment involves removing cancerous cells from the affected area with minimal invasion and damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This involves directly targeting specific tumors by inserting a needle into them. By applying freezing or heating techniques, the tumor can be reduced or eliminated. This approach is effective for various locations like the lung, bone, kidney, adrenal gland, and others, and it can be used to both kill the tumor and alleviate pain associated with it. Some examples of local treatments are listed below:
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Curative Ablation: This method is often applied to tumors that are localized or in the early stages of development. To eliminate the tumor cells and stop them from growing further, a variety of ablation procedures are used, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation, and cryoablation.
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Palliative Ablation: This technique is commonly employed in cases where cancer has progressed to an advanced stage, has metastasized to distant sites, or where curative treatment options are not feasible. Extreme heat or cold is applied directly to the tumor through various methods such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation, cryoablation, or other energy-based modalities. These techniques are guided by imaging technologies to precisely target the tumor and spare healthy surrounding tissues.
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Palliative Stabilization: Palliative stabilization using bone cement and orthopedic screws is a specific approach to manage pain and fractures caused by tumors in the pelvis. This technique is commonly employed in cases where cancer has spread to the bones or when the tumor has weakened the bone structure, leading to pain, instability, and the risk of fractures.
2. Regional Therapy:
Regional therapies are minimally invasive approaches that target a specific region of an organ containing multiple tumors or lesions. These therapies involve the injection of substances such as radioactive particles or chemotherapy particles into the specified area to treat multiple tumors simultaneously.
Two common regional therapies are:
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Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: Also known as selective internal radiation therapy or Y-90, this procedure involves the injection of radioactive microspheres (yttrium-90) into the blood vessels that supply the tumors. These microspheres deliver radiation directly to the tumors, leading to their destruction while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
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Chemoembolization: Chemoembolization involves the placement of inert beads loaded with chemotherapy drugs directly into the blood vessels that supply the tumors. These beads block the blood supply to the tumors, leading to their deprivation of nutrients and oxygen while simultaneously delivering concentrated chemotherapy to the region. This approach enhances the effectiveness of the chemotherapy while reducing systemic side effects.
What Are the Limitations of Minimally Invasive Cancer Techniques?
While minimally invasive cancer techniques offer various benefits, they also have certain limitations as listed below:
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The effectiveness and viability of minimally invasive procedures might be constrained by the size and location of the tumor.
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Minimally invasive cancer methods need specialized training and knowledge, and operator ability and experience have a big influence on results.
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In minimally invasive operations, precision targeting and visualization might be difficult because of the limited visual feedback compared to open surgery.
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Some minimally invasive procedures, which frequently act as palliative or targeted treatments, may not totally eradicate the tumor or have a curative goal. It may be necessary to use additional therapy techniques.
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Patient factors such as overall health, tumor characteristics, and cancer stage influence the suitability of minimally invasive approaches. Alternative treatment options may be more appropriate in certain cases.
Conclusion:
Minimally invasive cancer treatment techniques offer significant advantages in the management of various cancers. As advancements continue to be made in minimally invasive cancer treatment techniques, ongoing research, technological innovations, and improved operator training will further enhance their efficacy and broaden their applications. These techniques complement traditional treatment modalities and play a crucial role in the comprehensive management of cancer, offering potential benefits for patients in terms of reduced morbidity, improved quality of life, and better overall cancer care.
