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Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) refers to a high-frequency current that heats and coagulates tissue. In the
standard RFA setup, three components are used: a generator, an active electrode, and a dispersive electrode. RFA has
garnered support in many of the surgical fields as an alternative to traditional procedures used in tumor removal. Other
methods can prove to be more invasive and disfiguring to the patient, in addition to the unwarranted side effects;
however, RFA provides a more localized treatment, resulting in decreased co-morbidity to the patient. Currently, its use
in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery is limited, as its technology has not reached our field. By describing its
limited use to the optics community, we hope to expand its uses and provide patients with one more alternative treatment
option.
Methods and Uses: We will describe the use of RFA on three types of pathology: lymphangioma,
rhabdomyoscarcoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and neoplastic osseous metastasis. The majority of treatments
geared towards these pathologies involve surgical resection, followed by reconstruction. However, damage to vital
structures coupled with esthetic disfigurement makes RFA a more valuable alternative. In many of the cases, the tumors
were successfully removed without recurrence.
Conclusion: While the use of RFA has been scarce in our field, we believe that with more exposure it can gain
momentum as an alternative to current treatment options. However, there are improvements that we feel can be made,
helping to maximize its effectiveness.
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