onkommon.com
Local therapy
Interventional oncology
Image-guided treatment through a needle or a catheter, without an open operation.
Opinion here · delivered at a partner centre
What it is
Interventional oncology treats tumours through the skin or through a blood vessel, guided by imaging. Ablation destroys a tumour with heat, cold or electrical energy. Trans-arterial treatments deliver chemotherapy or radioactive beads directly into the vessels feeding it.
For small tumours in the right position, this can achieve what surgery would, without an operation, which matters enormously in patients whose fitness makes surgery risky.
When it is used
- Small liver, kidney or lung tumours in a suitable position
- Liver disease not suitable for resection, using trans-arterial approaches
- To relieve pain or obstruction
- Where fitness or organ function makes open surgery unwise
How the decision is made
- Position, size and number of lesions decide feasibility, this needs specific imaging review, not a general report.
- Whether it is intended to be curative or to control disease. The two are different conversations.
- How it sequences against systemic therapy and against any future surgery.
At a partner interventional radiology suite. KPCIRC performs no procedures.
Who does what
What we handle, and what happens elsewhere
KPCIRC handles
- Imaging review and candidacy assessment at the board
- Sequencing against systemic and surgical options
- Referral with a complete file
- Post-procedure imaging schedule and follow-up
- Pain management around the procedure
Performed and billed elsewhere
- The procedure
- Admission where required
- Imaging
- Pain, fever and fatigue for a few days after ablation or trans-arterial treatment is expected. Fever beyond that, or severe pain, needs assessment.
Questions to ask your own doctor
Take these with you. They work whether or not you are treated here.
- Is this intended to cure or to control?
- How many lesions can be treated, and in how many sittings?
- What happens if it does not fully work, can it be repeated?
- Does this affect whether surgery is possible later?
Support that goes with it
Where this is used
Cancers this commonly forms part of
Not sure this is the right option for you?
That is exactly what a second opinion is for. Bring what you have, we will tell you what is missing and what the alternatives actually are, in writing.