Liver Cancer Ablation Therapy: Is It Painful?

Ablation therapy for liver cancer is generally not associated with significant pain. There are two main types of ablation: physical ablation and chemical ablation. Among these, physical ablation is most commonly used in clinical settings and includes procedures such as argon-helium cryoablation, microwave ablation, and radiofrequency ablation.

Argon-helium cryoablation involves extreme temperature changes, rapidly freezing the tumor tissue to below -120°C and then quickly heating it. On the other hand, microwave and radiofrequency ablation raise the temperature of the tumor tissue to over 60°C, sometimes even reaching 100°C within seconds. Both thermal and cryoablation techniques can cause rapid tumor cell death and may also have a pain-relieving effect.

Chemical ablation, meanwhile, uses substances like chemotherapy drugs and absolute ethanol to destroy cancer cells. While the injection of these agents may cause some discomfort due to their irritating nature, modern imaging guidance ensures precise delivery directly into the tumor tissue, minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissues. In addition, local anesthetics or pain-relief medications are typically administered during the procedure to ensure patient comfort.

Overall, most patients experience little to no pain during or after ablation therapy for liver cancer, especially when appropriate techniques and pain management strategies are employed.