Ablation is any procedure that removes or destroys part or all of a functioning tissue or organs to treat a disease. Ablation is a local treatment procedure, meaning it affects a specific area or tissue rather than the whole body (systemic). In cancer patients, ablation is usually performed on patients who have only a small number of tumors or whose disease may not be treated with surgery.

Various ablation procedures may be used to treat certain cancers by destroying malignant cells. The most common types of ablation procedures for cancer include:

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA).  Uses radio waves released into a tumor to destroy cancer cells.
  
  
• Chemical ablation. Injects or applies various chemicals or drugs directly into the tumor for cell destruction.
  
  
• Cryoablation (cryosurgery).  Uses very low temperatures to destroy cancer cells by freezing them.
  
  
• Thermal ablation (hyperthermia). Uses high temperatures to destroy cancer cells in a small area.
  
  

Many forms of ablation, such as hyperthermia, are considered somewhat experimental. However, clinical trials have produced promising results for several ablation procedures in cancer treatment.