RFA and Cryoablation | The London Clinic Lung Centre

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What is it for?

To destroy cancer cells using intense heat or cold

Related conditions

Early stage lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Early stage lung cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms, but it requires treatment.

Late stage lung cancer

Late stage lung cancer is the most advanced lung cancer and occurs when the disease has spread beyond the lungs to other areas of the body.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that is typically caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. Early detection is key for effective treatment.

Non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases.

Small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer occurs when healthy cells in the lungs become cancerous and begin to multiply quickly.

Thymic cancer

Thymic cancer is rare, but it can occur and requires early diagnosis and treatment.

Thymoma

Thymomas are a type of thymic cancer that causes tumours to develop in your thymus gland (a gland between your lungs and behind your breastbone).

What are RFA and cryoablation?

Both RFA and cryoablation are highly localised treatments that target small tumours without damaging nearby healthy tissue.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation for lung cancer uses intense heat generated by high-frequency radio waves to destroy cancer cells.

During the procedure, a special needle, known as an electrode, is inserted into the tumour. An electrical current then passes through the needle, heating the cancer cells to a temperature high enough to destroy them. Because the heat is localised, it typically does not affect any other areas of your lung tissue.

Lung cryoablation

Lung cryoablation uses extreme cold to freeze cancer cells.

During cryoablation, a thin cryoprobe is inserted into the tumour. The cryoprobe then releases a freezing coolant, liquid nitrogen or argon gas. This develops into an ice ball which engulfs and kills the cancerous cells in the tumour.

A consultant in scrubs with a patient (awake) lying on a bed. They are having a conversation

Why might I need RFA or cryoablation?

RFA is usually only used in cases of secondary lung cancer. This refers to cancer that originated in another part of your body but has spread to form a new tumour in your lungs.

Cryoablation is typically recommended for early-stage lung cancer, especially when the tumour is too small to be treated with surgery, such as in cases of non-small cell lung carcinoma.

However, your consultant may also recommend RFA or cryoablation to treat your lung cancer if surgery is not an option for other reasons. This could be due to the size and position of your cancer making surgery difficult, an inability to undergo general anaesthesia or a health condition that makes surgery unsafe.

Request an appointment Call us on 0208 108 9624

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Diagnostics we offer

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)

An EBUS is an advanced diagnostic method which provides a precise, real-time assessment of the lungs, lymph nodes and surrounding structures.

Low-dose CT for lung cancer screening

Low-dose computed tomography is used for the early detection of lung cancer, when treatment is most effective.

Lung Health Check

A comprehensive service designed to assess your lung function, identify early signs of lung disease including lung cancer, and provide personalised advice.

PET-CT scans

PET and CT scans are advanced imaging techniques used to look for disease, inflammation or infection in your body.

Rapid molecular diagnostics

Molecular diagnostics can help us to personalise your treatment plan by detecting: driver mutations, RNA fusions, immunotherapy markers, drug resistance.

Video-assisted thoracoscopy and mediastinoscopy

Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) and mediastinoscopy are surgical techniques used to diagnose and treat various chest conditions, including lung cancer.

What to expect during RFA and cryoablation

A patient smiling, leave the london clinic lung centre, holding a clipboard of documents

Step 1

Preparing for RFA or cryoablation

Before your procedure, your care team will advise you on any medications to stop taking—such as aspirin, NSAIDs or blood thinners. You'll have a pre-treatment assessment, including blood tests to check your overall health.

You’ll be asked to stop eating and drinking a few hours before the procedure. On the day, simply arrive prepared for an overnight stay.

A photo of a patient receiving a treatment, with a nurse providing comfort, at The London Clinic Lung Centre

Step 2

During RFA or cryoablation

You will be given either a local anaesthetic with sedation or a general anaesthetic. Using a CT or ultrasound scan for guidance, your consultant will insert a needle into the tumour to carry out the treatment.

The procedure usually lasts 1–3 hours. Afterwards, a chest X-ray will be taken to check for any complications such as lung collapse.

Step 3

Recovery and aftercare

You may need to stay in bed for a few hours or overnight so your team can monitor your recovery. Mild discomfort, fatigue or fever are common but usually short-lived.

You can eat and drink once you’re fully awake and should avoid strenuous activity for a few days. A follow-up scan will be scheduled to assess how the treatment has worked.

Why choose The London Clinic Lung Centre?

World-class lung treatment

At The London Clinic Lung Centre, our specialists work at the forefront of cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment advancements. Not only do they have a comprehensive understanding of the latest techniques, but they are also the researchers driving them forward. As a result, you can rely on The London Clinic Lung Centre for exceptional care for chest conditions.

Personal care, every time

Exceptional patient care is at the heart of everything we do. Our teams will be with you every step of the way, providing timely results and a tailored care plan. To ensure the highest standards of care, we maintain a low staff-to-patient ratio, allowing our team to offer a truly personalised experience that considers the needs of both the patient and their family. Our goal is to foster the trust and confidence of our patients.

Effortlessly simple

Our multidisciplinary teams and specialists work as one to guide you through every step of your patient experience. From explaining your personalised treatment plan to managing every detail, we ensure a stress-free process, so that you can focus on healing. Whether it is your first consultation or follow-up care, our teams are here to provide the streamlined, comprehensive care you deserve.

RFA and cryoablation FAQs

All medical procedures come with a risk of side effects, and RFA and cryoablation are no different. Overall, however, the risk of complications is very low.

The side effects of these procedures may include:

Bleeding
Mild levels of pain in the treated area
Flu-like symptoms and a fever
Infection
Damage to the tissue surrounding the tumour

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above after your procedure, you should contact your care team who can provide personalised advice.

Because RFA and cryoablation target the tumour directly, they limit any damage to healthy tissue. As a result, both procedures lead to a quicker recovery and a lower risk of side effects compared to less localised treatments.

As you will have received either a general or local anaesthetic, you should not feel any pain during the procedure. If you have had a local anaesthetic and are not fully asleep, you may simply feel a slight tingling sensation in the area being treated.

Step 1. Preparing for RFA or cryoablation

Prior to your treatment, your care team will review your current medications and advise you on any that you should stop taking in advance. These may include:

Aspirin
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Blood thinners

You will have an appointment about a week before the procedure, during which your care team will assess your overall health to ensure you are ready. This may include blood tests to check your liver and kidney function, as well as your blood’s ability to clot.

At a certain time, either the night before or the morning of your procedure, you will be asked to stop eating and drinking. On the day, you will simply need to arrive prepared for an overnight stay at the clinic, with a bag containing anything you may need to be comfortable.

Step 2. During RFA or cryoablation

You will either be given a local anaesthetic and a sedative, which will make you feel very sleepy, or a general anaesthetic, which will put you completely to sleep.

Your consultant will then use either an ultrasound or a computed tomography (CT) scan to guide the needle through your skin and into the tumour. The treatment will typically last 30–90 minutes, depending on the size and location of the tumour. The entire procedure usually lasts between one and three hours.

Once the treatment is complete, your consultant will remove the needle and cover the area with a dressing. You will also have a chest X-ray to ensure the lung has not collapsed during the procedure (pneumothorax).

Step 3. Recovery and aftercare

Depending on what time you have your procedure, you will either need to stay in bed for a few hours afterwards or remain in the hospital overnight. This is so you can recover from the anaesthetic and be monitored to ensure you are not experiencing any immediate complications, such as bleeding.

Post-procedure, you may experience mild discomfort, fatigue or a fever. However, this will usually resolve within a few days. You will be able to start eating and drinking as soon as you are awake.

You should avoid strenuous activity for a few days after the procedure. Following advice from your consultant, you will be able to gradually return to your normal activities. However, if you experience any unusual symptoms, such as severe pain, a continued fever or difficulty breathing, you should inform your care team as soon as possible.

A follow-up scan will be scheduled a few weeks after the procedure to assess how well the cancer is responding to the treatment.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation