n. an *ablation technique in which extreme cold is used to destroy tumour or abnormal tissue. Nitrogen or argon gas is passed through the ablation probe to freeze the tissue around it. The technique is mostly used to destroy abnormal conducting tissue in the heart, especially abnormal cells around the pulmonary veins as they enter the left atrium in patients with atrial *fibrillation. However, it is also used for kidney, prostate, and bone tumours. *Radiofrequency ablation is an alternative approach.
n. 1. a technique in which tumours or other abnormal areas are destroyed using thermal energy, whether by heating or freezing (see cryoablation). It is commonly used with liver tumours, kidney tumours, lung tumours, and abnormalities of the heart conduction system. Large thyroid goitres are also now ablated to reduce their size, with very good cosmetic results. In *radiofrequency ablation (RFA) radiofrequency waves are passed through a needle placed in the target area, which agitates the atoms and produces heat at the active tip. 2. more generally, the removal or destruction of tissue or an abnormal growth by surgery, hormones, drugs, etc. For example, hormonal therapy is an alternative to surgery for the treatment of breast cancer when the patient is not fit for resectional surgery. In dentistry hard tissue can be removed by erbium laser ablation, with or without water spray. See also endometrial ablation; radioiodine ablation.... ablation
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