| Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) | High-frequency alternating current generates heat, causing irreversible coagulative necrosis through protein denaturation | Liver, kidney, lung and bone tumors | Minimally invasive, widely available, effective for small tumors | Limited effectiveness near large blood vessels (heat sink effect), not ideal for cystic tumors. Extent of ablation area not visible in real time |
| Microwave ablation (MWA) | Electromagnetic waves agitate water molecules, generating heat and inducing irreversible coagulative necrosis | Liver, kidney lung and bone tumors | Faster and larger ablation zones than RFA, less affected by heat sink | Risk of overheating nearby critical tissues. Extent of ablation area not visible in real time |
| Cryoablation (Cryo) | Freezing and thawing causes ice crystal formation and cell rupture leading to coagulative necrosis | Prostate, kidney, bone, desmoid and lung tumors | Good real time visualization of ablation area with imaging, less pain post-procedure | Longer procedure time, risk of cryo-shock in liver ablation, costs |
| Laser ablation | Concentrated light energy heats and destroys target tissue by coagulative necrosis | Brain tumors, liver metastases, dermatology | Precise and controllable, | Very limited penetration |
| Irreversible electroporation (IRE) | Electric pulses create permanent nanopores in cell membranes, inducing apoptosis | Tumors near critical structures (e.g., bile ducts in liver, pancreas, prostate) | Non-thermal, spares connective tissue and vessels | Longer procedure time and general anesthesia recommended |
| Electrochemotherapy (ECT) | Electric pulses increase cell membrane permeability, enhancing drug uptake, leading to different types of cell death depending on the concentration of the drug | Cutaneous, subcutaneous, mucosal and deep-seated tumors, potentially pancreatic cancer | Highly effective for superficial tumors, low systemic toxicity, spares connective tissue and vessels | Bimodal treatment, drug and application of pulsed electric field |
