Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been the workhorse for 20+ years — it's reliable, cheap, and well‑studied. Microwave ablation (MWA) is newer — it heats faster, creates larger ablation zones, and is less affected by tissue charring. The US tumor ablation market research shows that RFA holds the largest share, but MWA is the fastest‑growing, with a CAGR above 12%. Why the shift? Because MWA is better for larger tumours and for tumours near large vessels.
What's the trade‑off? MWA systems are more expensive, and there's less long‑term data. The US tumor ablation market trends highlight that the fastest‑growing application is lung cancer, where MWA's speed helps compensate for respiratory motion.
New technology: multi‑probe MWA, where several antennas are inserted to create a larger, more irregular ablation zone — perfect for oddly shaped tumours.
The bottom line: for small, well‑defined tumours, RFA is fine. For larger or complex tumours, MWA is worth the extra cost.
