LATEST ADVANCED BONE TUMOR TREATMENT AT DR. ZIAUDDIN HOSPITAL

Advanced Bone Tumor Treatment;

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Of Osteoid Osteoma

At Dr. Ziauddin Hospital

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment that uses imaging guidance to place a needle electrode through the skin into a tumor. High-frequency electrical currents are passed through the electrode, creating heat that destroys the tumor cells. RFA is an effective treatment option for patients who might have difficulty with surgery .The success rate for completely eliminating small tumors is greater than 90 percent. Dr. Ziauddin hospital is offering this latest treatment at its two interventional radiology suits. Dr. M. Kashif Shazlee, HOD radiology, among two other interventional radiologist, Dr. I. A Lutfi& Dr. M. Ali, offers this minimally invasive curative treatment.

WHAT IS RFA?

Radiofrequency ablation, sometimes referred to as RFA, is a minimally invasive treatment for cancer. It is an image-guided technique that heats and destroys tumor cells.

In radiofrequency ablation, imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to help guide a needle electrode into a bone tumor. High-frequency electrical currents are then passed through the electrode, creating heat that destroys the abnormal cells.

WHAT ARE INDICATIONS FOR RFA OF BONE?

Radiofrequency ablation is used to treat few types of bone lesions especially osteoid osteoma. Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor of the bone. This tumor is most frequently found in the legs but may occur also at other bones in nearly any part of the body. Osteoid osteoma is a tumor of children and young adults, it is very rare in older adults over the age of 50.In general, radiofrequency ablation is most effective treating this tumor.

HOW DOES THE PROCEDURE WORKS?

Radiofrequency ablation works by passing electrical currents in the range of radiofrequency waves between the needle electrode and the grounding pads placed on the patient’s skin. These currents create heat around the electrode, which when directed into the tumor, heats and destroys the tumor cells. At the same time, heat from radiofrequency energy closes small blood vessels and lessens the risk of bleeding. The dead tumor cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue that shrinks over time.

HOW THE PROCEDURE IS PERFORMED?

Image-guided, minimally invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablation are most often performed by a specially trained interventional radiologist in an interventional radiology suite or occasionally in the operating room. Dr. M. Kashif Shazlee & his dedicated specialized team is one of the fewer physicians who are specialized in this advanced technique.

Radiofrequency ablation is often done on an outpatient basis.

The area where the electrodes are to be inserted will be sterilized and covered with a surgical drape.

Your physician will numb the area with a local anesthetic if the procedure is to be done while you are awake. If general anesthesia is used, you will have a breathing tube placed through your mouth and into your trachea after you are asleep. The breathing tube will be connected to a breathing machine while you are asleep.

A very small nick may be made in your skin to make it easier to pass the RFA electrode into in the effected bone.

Using imaging-guidance, your physician will insert the needle electrode through the skin and advance it to the site of the tumor.

At the end of the procedure, the needle electrode will be removed and pressure will be applied to stop any bleeding and the opening in the skin is covered with a dressing. No sutures are needed.

WHAT ARE BENEFITS & RISKS INVOLVED?

Benefits

  • Rapid pain relief usually apparent within the first 2-3 days after the procedure,
  • No overnight hospital stay,
  • Return to work, school and other normal activities usually within the first week after the procedure, but no vigorous sports for 3 months,
  • Minimal damage to bones and muscle with no significant structural weakness,
  • Lower cost.
  • Treatment-related serious complications are infrequent and discomfort is minimal.
  • No surgical incision is needed—only a small nick in the skin that does not have to be stitched closed.

Risks

  • Any procedure where the skin is penetrated carries a risk of infection. The chance of infection requiring antibiotic treatment appears to be less than one in 1,000.
  • Less than one percent of patients may develop a localized infection (abscess) at the site of the tumor ablation three to four weeks after the treatment.
  • Severe pain after RFA is uncommon, but may last a few days and require a narcotic to provide relief.

OBESITY : A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT IN PAKISTAN

Published URL : National Courier

Published Date: 19th July 2016

By Itrat Siddiqui The Nutritional transition is associated with a change in dietary habits , decreasing physical activity and rising prevalence of obesity. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases. Obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the last 30 years. Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscles , bone , water ,or combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Overweight and obesity are the result of “Caloric Imbalance “. Childhood obesity is increasingly being observed with the changing life style of families with increased purchasing power, increasing hour of in activity due to television, video games, and computers which are replacing outdoor games and other social activities. The most important consequence of childhood obesity is its persistence into adulthood . with all its health risks include cardiovascular disease , and some sex hormone sensitive cancers. Pakistan ranked 9th out of 188 countries in terms of obesity, according to the ( Global Burden of Disease study published in the Lancet journal. Pakistan needs to develop a national strategy to control obesity in its population by implementing the recommendations of the WHO global strategy on diet , physical activity and health. Healthy life style habits ,including healthy eating and physical activity , can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related disease. Schools play a particularly role by establishing a safe and supportive environment with policies and practices that support healthy behaviors. Schools also provide opportunities for students to learn about and practice healthy eating and physical activity behavior’s . Special emphasis may be laid on healthy diet and avoiding use of extra fats and sugars for energy . Children should be encouraged to utilize fresh vegetable , fruits , legumes , whole grains and high fiber diets . cutting the amount of fatty, sugary foods in the diet. – Engaging in daily moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes. Garden, go for family walks, play a pickup game of sports, swim, take the stairs, or walk to the grocery store or work Eat small portions. Use a smaller plate, weigh portions on a scale, or check the Nutrition Facts label for details about serving sizes Eating habits of children and teen agers should be monitored. State Should strictly regulate the marketing of foods and drinks for the children and ensure that for marketing companies are not playing with the health of our future generations . “ The battle to curb childhood obesity is critically tied to understanding its causes and focusing on the modifiable factors that can lead to positive health change for each and every child, Eagle said.” Fad diets are not the best way to lose weight and keep it off. These diets often promise quick weight loss if you strictly reduce what you eat or avoid some types of foods. Some of these diets may help you lose weight at first. But these diets are hard to follow. Most people quickly get tired of them and regain any lost weight. A serving of low-fat or fat-free food may be lower in calories than a serving of the full-fat product. But many processed low-fat or fat-free foods have just as many calories as the full-fat versions of the same foods-or even more calories. These foods may contain added flour, salt, starch, or sugar to improve flavor and texture after fat is removed. These items add calories. Skipping meals may make you feel hungrier and lead you to eat more than you normally would at your next meal. In particular, studies show a link between skipping breakfast and obesity. People who skip breakfast tend to be heavier than people who eat a healthy breakfast. Eating lean meat in small amounts can be part of a healthy plan to lose weight. Chicken, fish, and red meat contain some cholesterol and saturated fat. But they also contain healthy nutrients like iron, protein, and zinc. A number of factors such as your age, genes, medicines, and lifestyle habits may affect your weight. If you would like to lose weight, speak with your health care provider about factors that may affect your weight. A registered dietitian may also give you advice on a healthy eating plan and safe ways to lose weight and keep it off. – Writer of this article is a Clinical Nutritionist at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital

DR. ZIAUDDIN HOSPITAL IS PROUD TO LAUNCH ITS FIRST RADIO FREQUENCY ABLATION (RFA) OF VARICOSE VEINS

Dr. Ziauddin Hospital is proud to launch its first  Radio frequency ablation (RFA) of varicose veins at Dr Ziauddin hospital Clifton. It is a latest minimally invasive technique for endovascular ablation of varicose veins and, Ziauddin hospital is one of  the pioneer institutes in Pakistan offering this treatment. It is a day care procedure, performed under local anesthesia by Interventional Radiologist.

Apart from RFA, we are also performing percutaneous Sclerotherapy  for superficial Hemangiomas and,Arterial embolisations for AVMs.

You can refer patients to Dr Muhammad Ali ( Radiology Department)  EXT: 295  and  Mr. Akber Nasir (Manager Cath lab) EXT: 369/370.

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