Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the palliative treatment of patients with bone metastases provides rapid and sustained pain relief, according to new research.

The study was presented by lead researcher Dr Jason Levy of Northside Hospital, Atlanta, US at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting.

Radiation treatments have been commonly used for osseous metastases, but pain relief can take “weeks to occur and in this palliative-care population that can represent a significant portion of the remaining life for these patients”, he said.

“RFA uses radiofrequency waves to create heat and that heat kills the tumour cells and destroys some of the nerve fibres, both of which reduce or stop transmission of pain and signals of pain to the brain.”