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BackTable / MSK / Podcast / Episode #20

Microwave Ablation: A Powerful but Underused Modality for Treatment of Spine Tumors

with Dr. Majid Khan

In this episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Majid Khan, a spine interventionalist and expert in neuroimaging, about microwave ablation, a new treatment modality that has garnered significant attention.

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Microwave Ablation: A Powerful but Underused Modality for Treatment of Spine Tumors with Dr. Majid Khan on the BackTable MSK Podcast)
Ep 20 Microwave Ablation: A Powerful but Underused Modality for Treatment of Spine Tumors with Dr. Majid Khan
00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2023, July 12). Ep. 20 – Microwave Ablation: A Powerful but Underused Modality for Treatment of Spine Tumors [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Majid Khan discusses Microwave Ablation: A Powerful but Underused Modality for Treatment of Spine Tumors on the BackTable 20 Podcast

Dr. Majid Khan

Dr. Majid Khan is the Director of Non Vascular Spine Intervention and an Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Dr. Jacob Fleming discusses Microwave Ablation: A Powerful but Underused Modality for Treatment of Spine Tumors on the BackTable 20 Podcast

Dr. Jacob Fleming

Dr. Jacob Fleming is a diagnostic radiology resident and future MSK interventional radiologist in Dallas, Texas.

Synopsis

Dr. Khan completed his radiology residency in New York and his fellowship in neuroradiology at John Hopkins. As he progressed in the field, he observed a significant shift in spinal care towards interventional methods and began to study these techniques, which included radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation for treating spinal tumors. However, when he treated cases of prostate cancer spine metastases, he realized that RFA was challenging, due to the high bone impedance of osteoblastic lesions. This obstacle piqued his interest in microwave ablation, an alternative technique that employs an electromagnetic wave to induce rapid oscillation of hydrogen atoms in water molecules. This oscillation generates frictional heat, leading to coagulative tumor necrosis. Unlike RFA, microwave ablation significantly reduces bone impedance, making it a promising solution for these cases.

Dr. Khan cautions that special care must be taken when operating in areas near nerves due to the elevated temperatures. To ensure safety, he recommends the use of a probe within the frequency range of 900 MHz to 1.2 GHz and the incorporation of thermocouplers as a safeguard during the ablation process. Furthermore, Dr. Khan delves into the indications for ablation based on the extent of tumor metastasis. In cases of oligometastatic disease, he advises a more aggressive treatment approach by extending the ablation zone beyond the actual tumor size. On the other hand, when dealing with diffusely metastatic disease, the primary goal of treatment shifts towards pain reduction.

The two conclude their discussion with Dr. Khan’s advice for physicians planning to utilize microwave ablation. He advises them to approach their initial 5-10 cases judiciously, in an effort to minimize the risk of complications that may adversely impact their self-confidence. Having adequate self confidence enhances the likelihood of achieving successful outcomes. For those looking for a valuable resource in the field, Dr. Khan has recently published a comprehensive textbook that features contributions from experts in the field.

Resources

“Assessing long-term locoregional control of spinal osseous metastases after microwave ablation”:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35963064/

Vertebral Augmentation:
https://shop.thieme.com/Vertebral-Augmentation/9781684200153

Image Guided Interventions of the Spine
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-80079-6

Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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