Radiofrequency ablation available in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE - The Lanier Park Campus of Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville now offers radiofrequency ablation treatment to some liver cancer patients.

Doctor Ken Dixon began performing the minimally invasive surgical procedure about a year-and-a-half ago.

"We've had good support from the nursing staff and from the sonogram techs. I think things are going well," said Dixon

Radiofrequency ablation involves putting an electric probe into liver tumors through a laproscopic or open incision. Rapid vibrations of the electrical current will cause heat that destroys the cancer cells.

"We are providing those sophisticated services here in Hall County that we need to provide in order to take care of patients who come down with malignancies," said Dixon.

The technique is limited to patients with cancer only in that organ or for whom it went to the liver in a limited spread from the colon or rectum.