A same-day minimally invasive procedure that uses targeted energy to relieve pain from cancer that has spread to the spine — performed together with balloon kyphoplasty to stabilize the affected vertebra in a single outpatient visit.
Candidacy
Who This May Help
Bone tumor ablation may be an option if you have cancer that has spread to one or more vertebrae — called spinal metastases — and are experiencing significant pain that has not responded adequately to radiation therapy, or if you need faster relief than radiation can provide. It may also be appropriate if radiation is not an option for you at this time. The goal of this procedure is to relieve pain — it is not a cancer treatment and does not replace your oncology care.
A consultation with our clinical team will determine whether you are a candidate and how this procedure fits alongside your current cancer treatment plan.
Procedure Overview
How Bone Tumor Ablation Works
Bone tumor ablation delivers radiofrequency energy through a small needle placed directly into the painful tumor in the vertebra. The targeted energy destroys the tumor tissue at the site, interrupting the pain signals it is generating. Because it acts directly at the source of the pain, many patients experience relief faster than they would from radiation therapy.
After the ablation is complete, balloon kyphoplasty is performed in the same visit to stabilize the vertebra. Cancer in the spine can weaken the bone and increase the risk of a fracture — kyphoplasty fills the space left after ablation with bone cement, reinforcing the vertebra and reducing that risk. Both procedures are performed through small needle-sized incisions and the patient goes home the same day.
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Recovery & Results
What to Expect After the Procedure
Most patients go home the same day. Some soreness at the procedure site is normal for a few days and typically resolves on its own. Most patients are able to resume light activity within one to two days. Walking is encouraged as tolerated after returning home.
Many patients experience meaningful pain relief within days to one to two weeks — often faster than radiation therapy. The degree of relief varies depending on the extent of spinal involvement and the patient’s overall condition. All care is coordinated with your oncology team to ensure this procedure fits safely alongside your ongoing cancer treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions
Bone tumor ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses targeted radiofrequency energy delivered through a small needle to destroy painful cancer deposits in the spine. It is used specifically for spinal metastases — cancer that has spread from another site to the vertebrae — and is aimed at relieving pain rather than treating or eliminating the cancer itself. It is always performed alongside balloon kyphoplasty to stabilize the vertebra after the ablation.
Bone tumor ablation may be appropriate for patients with painful spinal metastases — cancer that has spread to one or more vertebrae — who have not found adequate relief from radiation therapy, are not candidates for radiation, or who need faster pain relief than radiation can provide. A consultation will help determine whether this procedure is appropriate alongside your existing cancer treatment plan.
When cancer spreads to a vertebra it can weaken the bone and increase the risk of a compression fracture. After ablation destroys the painful tumor tissue, balloon kyphoplasty is performed in the same procedure to fill the space with bone cement — stabilizing the vertebra and reducing the risk of collapse. This combined approach addresses both the pain and the structural integrity of the affected bone in a single outpatient visit.
No. Bone tumor ablation is a pain management procedure, not a cancer treatment. Its goal is to relieve the pain caused by cancer in the spine — not to eliminate or control the cancer itself. It is performed as a complement to your oncology care, not as a replacement for it. Importantly, it does not interfere with radiation therapy if that is needed in the future.
Many patients experience meaningful pain relief within days to one to two weeks of the procedure — often faster than radiation therapy, which may take several weeks to reach its maximum benefit. The degree and duration of relief varies depending on the extent of spinal involvement and the patient’s overall condition.
In most cases, yes. Bone tumor ablation can be performed alongside ongoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other systemic cancer treatments. We coordinate closely with your oncology team to ensure the procedure is timed appropriately and integrates safely with your overall cancer care plan.
Cancer Spine Pain Deserves Targeted Relief.
Our clinical team works alongside your oncology team to determine whether bone tumor ablation is an appropriate option for your situation.
