Colorectal Cancer: Ablation and Embolization

Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in adults in the United States.

There are many ways to treat colorectal cancer, such as surgery. If your colorectal cancer has spread to the liver or lungs, your cancer team may advise treating it in other ways.

Ablation and embolization are 2 types of treatments that destroy tumors. Your healthcare team will tell you if these may be options for you. Both are minimally invasive. This means they are done with small tools. In most cases, you don’t need to stay overnight in the hospital.

About ablation

Ablation uses heat or cold to kill cells. It is often probe inserted through the skin. Ablation is guided by imaging such as CT scan or ultrasound. This helps your healthcare provider get the probe to the tumor to be treated. Ablation may be used to treat small tumors. It can also be used in addition to surgery or chemotherapy.

There are 4 kinds of ablation:

• Radiofrequency ablation. This uses high-energy radio waves to create heat to destroy cancer cells. It’s often used to treat cancer that has spread to the liver.

• Microwave ablation. This uses high-frequency electromagnetic microwaves to heat and destroy cancer cells. It’s also used to treat cancer that has spread to the liver.

• Ethanol ablation. This uses pure concentrated ethanol (alcohol). The ethanol is injected into a tumor to destroy cancer cells.

• Cryosurgery ablation. This uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy cancer cells.

About embolization

Embolization is a treatment to block blood vessels. It can be used to treat tumors in the liver. It can treat larger tumors that are too big for ablation to work. It is done by injecting tiny beads into the blood vessels that send blood to the tumor. This stops the blood flow. It can stop the tumor from growing. Then the tumor may shrink or die.

There are also 2 types of special embolization:

• Chemoembolization. This is done by injecting chemotherapy beads into the blood vessels that supply the tumor.

• Radioembolization. This is done by injecting tiny radioactive balls into the tumor.

These procedures block the blood flow, too. But they also put chemotherapy medicine or radiation right into the tumor.

The type of embolization you have will depend on:

• The size of the tumor

• The location of the tumor

• Your overall health

Side effects of ablation and embolization

Serious problems are rare with both ablation and embolization. But there are some possible side effects. The procedures may cause:

• Belly (abdominal) pain

• Infection in the liver

• Fever

• Abnormal liver tests

Other possible side effects depend on the type of procedure and location (liver or lung). They can include:

• Bleeding into the chest cavity (lung tumor)

• Bleeding into the abdomen (liver tumor)

• Nausea

• Gallbladder inflammation

• Blood clots in the liver

Making an informed decision

Ablation or embolization is not for every person with colorectal cancer. Your cancer team will help you weigh the risks and benefits of your other treatment options.

They will help you to make an informed decision about your care. Ask questions so you understand what the best treatment plan is for you.