Microwave endometrial ablation Health Dictionary

Ablation means the removal of any part of the body by a surgical operation.... ablation

A treatment for persistent menorrhagia (heavy menstrual blood loss) that involves endoscopic examination of the uterus (see endoscopy) and removal of the uterus lining, the endometrium, by diathermy or laser.... endometrial ablation

See uterus, cancer of.... endometrial cancer

an increase in the thickness of the cells of the *endometrium, usually due to prolonged exposure to unopposed oestrogen, which can be endogenous, as in anovular menstrual cycles; or exogenous, deriving, for example, from *hormone replacement therapy or an oestrogen-secreting tumour. It is classified as simple, complex, or atypical. Endometrial hyperplasia most commonly presents with abnormal uterine bleeding and accounts for 15% cases of postmenopausal bleeding. It may also be asymptomatic, and in some cases regresses spontaneously without ever being detected. The presence of atypical cells may lead to *endometrial cancer. Treatment can include progestogen therapy or surgery (see endometrial ablation); hysterectomy is advised when atypical changes are present.... endometrial hyperplasia

(MWA) an *ablation technique in which microwaves are used to burn tumour tissues. This has some advantages over *radiofrequency ablation because the heat generated is field heating, as in conventional microwave machines. This makes it possible to get a bigger ablation zone and means that the ablation is not affected by the heat-sink effect of adjacent blood vessels.... microwave ablation

a form of *diathermy using electromagnetic waves of extremely short wavelength. In modern apparatus the electric currents induced in the tissues have frequencies of up to 25,000 million cycles per second.... microwave therapy

the use of radioactive iodine (iodine-131) to destroy any residual thyroid tissue after thyroidectomy for cancer. Subsequent radioiodine treatment may be necessary to treat suspected or known residual thyroid cancer cells. Following ablation, thyroglobulin levels can be used as a *tumour marker.... radioiodine ablation