Minimally invasive technique is applied to every kind of malignant solid tumors and displays an obvious advantage in treating middle and late stage cancers. It has become a major option for its precise efficacy, minor side effect, fast recovery and better prognosis.
Minimally invasive treatment is carried out in a systematic way in Royallee Cancer Center. There are 31 inpatient wards specifically designed for patients who go for minimally invasive procedures. And they will undergo necessary workup like Digital Subtraction Angiography( DSA manufactured by Siemens), 128-slice Computed Tomography(128-slice CT manufactured by General Electrics) and 16-slice Electroconvulsive Therapy(ECT). Moreover, a wide range of minimally invasive procedures are conducted to deliver tumor precision treatment, for example, intravascular intervention, intravascular intervention of radioactive Iridium-90, Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy, Microwave Ablation, Cryoablation, Irreversible Electroporation Ablation(IRE), Radioactive Particle Implantation and Photodynamic Therapy.
Minimally invasive treatment team led by Dr. Xie Qiang will uphold “patient-centered” and “efficacy-oriented” principle to offer professional and premium medical service.
Common Minimally Invasive Techniques
Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy works by high temperature. During the procedure, heat energy is generated in the foci with a alternating-current field produced by radiofrequency and it creates high temperature to cause coagulative necrosis of tumor tissue. The procedure can eliminate the tumor tissue to the maximum extent, meanwhile, damage to surrounding normal tissue is precisely under control. Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy applies to benign and malignant solid tumors, mostly liver tumors, lung tumors and breast tumors in clinical practice. And the therapy is hopefully suitable for primary tumors, metastatic tumors, inoperable late stage tumors, tumors that can’t be removed completely in the surgery and patients unfit for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Microwave Ablation
Microwave Ablation, also known as Thermal Ablation, works by heating tumor tissue to caogulation, dehydration and necrosis. At the same time, necrotized tumor tissue produces heat shock proteins that stimulate immune system and improve immunity. The therapy applies to all kinds of malignant solid tumors, usually liver tumors, lung tumors, breast tumors and pancreas tumors. It is also combined with other therapies, Transarterial Chemoembolization(TACE) for instance, to augment control over post-operative tumors and expand its indications.
Radioactive Particle Implantation
Radioactive Particle Implantation falls within the scope of brachytherapy. It works by implanting radioactive I125 that kills tumor cells with emission of Gamma Ray into the tumor. The therapy may cause minor damage to surrounding normal tissue, but usually the damage will not be systemic. Solid tumors found on human body, such as lung tumors, liver tumors, osseous tumors, cerebral tumors, pancreas tumors, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, pelvic tumors, metastatic tumors, head and neck tumors, prostate tumors, kidney and adrenal tumors and soft tissue sarcoma, are indications for radioactive particle implantation.
Technical Competitiveness of Minimally Invasive Treatment
Minimally Invasive Treatment kills tumors by delivering precise blow to the tumor with the guidance of imaging equipment(DSA, Fluoroscopic Machine, CT, MR and Ultrasound)through vascular and skin puncture or human duct system. It is competitive for:
1.Precision , small trauma: precise blow to the tumor foci with no harm to surrounding normal tissue. And the outcome is comparable with open surgery.
2.Definite efficacy and shrinking the tumor: tumor cells decay, necrotize, and are absorbed when the procedure is done. It also helps to shrink large tumors for further surgical resection.
3.Highly targeted, low recurrence: in intervention treatment, local chemotherapy drugs are dozens of times more concentrated than systemic chemotherapy. Moreover, chemoembolization blocks blood supply for the tumor, boosting treatment effect and lowering toxicity. Precise imaging, location and treatment cause minor damage to normal tissue and lowers recurrence rate.
4.Slight side effect, high repeatability: total dosage is small, but the local drug concentration is high, which improves the efficacy and has less side effects; patients feel less painful with a tiny skin incision and the high repeatability is more friendly than conventional surgery in the case of recurrence.
5. Safe, reliable and affordable: widely applicable. A good choice for the elder, the weak and those intolerant of conventional surgeries because it doesn’t require general anesthesia. The charge is relatively low.