Preparation for percutaneous ablation procedures

Percutaneous tumor ablation is now commonly used to treat a wide range of focal tumors. Patients eligible for ablation often have complex medical problems that preclude them from receiving other treatments. The interventional radiologist needs to perform a careful clinical evaluation of each patient before the procedure to determine which patients are suitable candidates for treatment and to identify patients who may be at a higher risk for complications. The clinical consultation also provides an opportunity to prepare the patient for the ablation and to appropriately plan the procedure. In this article, we discuss key components of the consultation and concepts regarding patient evaluation and preparation for a tumor ablation procedure.