Table 1 Characteristics of ablative techniques
From: Ablative techniques for the treatment of benign and malignant breast tumours
| Imaging guidancea | Appearance | Advantage | Disadvantage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Intensity Focused Ultrasound | MRI, US | One system integrated with imaging guidance | Non-invasive | Time-consuming |
| Radiofrequency ablation | MRI, US | Needle connected to system | Time efficient | Minimally invasive |
| Cryo-ablation | US | Probe connected to system | Freezing instead of heating, analgesic effect | Time-consuming, minimally invasive |
| Laser ablation | US, CT | Fibre connected to system | Time efficient | Minimally invasive |
| Microwave ablation | US | Probe connected to system | Time efficient and high thermal efficacy | Minimally invasive, time consuming, more treatment related complications |