Tissue thermal ablation

Tissue thermal ablation is a minimally invasive technique used to destroy abnormal tissue—including tumors and other lesions—by applying extreme heat or cold directly to the target area under image guidance. Heat-based approaches (such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, or focused ultrasound) induce cell death by coagulative necrosis, denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes. Cold-based approaches (cryoablation) freeze and rupture cells. The technique is widely used in oncology for tumors of the liver, lung, kidney, thyroid, uterus, and bone, as well as in the treatment of certain cardiac arrhythmias and chronic pain. Unlike molecular targets, thermal ablation is not a receptor or enzyme but an interventional procedure with evolving safety, efficacy, and application profiles[1][2][3][4][5][6]. Tissue thermal ablation, as presented here, is not a canonical drug target and should be excluded from lists of molecular or pharmacologic targets.

Other names

Thermal ablationTissue ablationRadiofrequency ablation (specific modality)Microwave ablation (specific modality)Cryoablation (specific modality)Focused ultrasound ablation (specific modality)

Induction of coagulative necrosis by heat (hyperthermia, e.g., radiofrequency, microwave, focused ultrasound) Induction of tissue death by freezing (cryoablation)[1][3][4][6]