In this PhD research, Rick Nijland examines minimally invasive treatment options for bone tumors. With an increasing number of diagnosed tumors and metastases in bone, there is a growing need for better, more patient-friendly treatment options. Through minimally invasive treatments, a bone tumor can be treated or symptoms can be reduced without the need for major surgery. Tumor tissue is destructed by application of local heat.
In the first part of the research, we looked at what is already known about treatment using radiofrequency ablation. This includes the effectiveness and safety of treatment for patients with osteoid osteoma or atypical cartilaginous tumors. Additionally, we examined the follow-up of treatment through annual MRI scans.
In the second part of the research, we explored microwave ablation, a technique that is so far only rarely used in bone. For this, experiments were conducted on sheep bones from a slaughterhouse and on laboratory animals. The reliability, effectiveness, and safety were evaluated. Furthermore, the effects on the mechanical strength of the bone after treatment were investigated. The experiments were carried out on both long bones and vertebral bodies. The results show that microwave ablation, in its current form, is (still) unsuitable as a minimally invasive therapy for bone tumors, primarily due to a high number of complications. On the other hand, radiofrequency ablation proves to be a good option, with high effectiveness and relatively low complication rates.
