Concierge oncology · UK-wide
Heat treatment to destroy abnormal cells — a patient’s guide to thermal ablation.
RFA, microwave, cryoablation, laser, HIFU and photodynamic therapy — one page, honestly explained, with the modality matched to the tumour and to you.
Why patients choose us
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The right modality, not the loudest
RFA, microwave, cryo, laser, HIFU, PDT — each has a niche. We match the technique to the tumour, not the marketing.
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Multidisciplinary decision, always
Interventional radiology, oncology, surgery and the relevant specialty in the same room before you commit to ablation.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private thermal ablation costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three centres.
In short
A small liver or kidney RFA in our network: £8,000–£14,000, home the next day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) — liver / kidney tumour | £8,000–£14,000 | 2–3 hours | 1 night stay |
| Microwave ablation (MWA) — liver / lung | £9,000–£15,000 | 2–3 hours | 1 night stay |
| Cryoablation — kidney / breast / bone | £10,000–£18,000 | 2–4 hours | 1 night stay |
| Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) — brain | £25,000–£45,000 | Half-day | 2–3 nights |
| HIFU — uterine fibroids (MRgFUS) | £7,000–£12,000 | 3–4 hours | Same day |
| Photodynamic therapy (PDT) — skin lesion | £350–£900 | 2 hours | Same day |
| Endometrial ablation (NovaSure) | £3,500–£6,500 | 30–45 min | Same day |
| Multidisciplinary consultation only | £300–£600 | 45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by centre, by modality, by tumour size and by whether an overnight stay or MRI-guided suite is needed. We come back with a firm quote within a few working days.
The problem
The right modality, in the right unit, for the right patient.
Ablation is a technical field with strong opinions. RFA, microwave, cryo, laser, HIFU and PDT all destroy tissue — but each has a niche, and getting that call wrong wastes an opportunity that surgery can rarely replace.
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Not sure ablation is right?
For some tumours resection is still the standard. We say so before you commit to a percutaneous option.
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Confused by the modalities?
Microwave vs RFA vs cryo vs HIFU is not a marketing decision — it is anatomy, size and biology. We translate.
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Want a proper MDT?
Interventional radiology, oncology and the relevant surgical team in one conversation, before a needle goes anywhere.
The journey
From enquiry to follow-up imaging — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — and the MDT decision behind it.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the unit
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You send us the imaging and diagnosis
A short, confidential summary — recent scans, biopsy report, comorbidities, and what you have already been offered.
- 02
Before
MDT-style review, then a recommendation
Within a few working days: whether ablation is appropriate, which modality, which centre, and an indicative price. If surgery or radiotherapy is a better answer, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the procedure
Usually within two to three weeks. Blood thinners are reviewed, fasting confirmed, and pre-procedure imaging booked if needed.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Admission, consent and a chat with the interventional radiologist and anaesthetist. LA, sedation or GA depending on site and modality.
- 05
On the day
The ablation itself
30 minutes to 3 hours in interventional radiology, endoscopy or a hybrid theatre. Needles or probes placed under CT, ultrasound or MRI guidance and heated to a controlled temperature.
- 06
On the day
Overnight stay or home the same day
Some ablations (small liver, kidney, thyroid) go home the same day. Larger cases or lung ablations often stay one night for observation.
- 07
After
Follow-up imaging and review
Contrast-enhanced imaging at 4–6 weeks confirms complete ablation. Longer-term surveillance is planned with your oncologist or specialist.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Follow-up imaging: 4–6 weeks.
When it helps
When thermal ablation is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means a bigger operation rather than a needle.
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Small liver tumour (HCC or metastasis)
HCC under 3 cm or a limited number of colorectal liver metastases — NICE-endorsed as an alternative to resection in selected patients.
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Small kidney tumour (T1a, under 4 cm)
RFA, microwave or cryoablation for small renal masses — organ-preserving and NICE-endorsed for patients unsuitable for partial nephrectomy.
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Peripheral lung tumour
Early-stage lung cancer or an oligometastasis in a patient not fit for surgery — microwave or RFA under CT guidance.
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Benign or malignant thyroid nodule
RFA for a benign nodule causing pressure or cosmetic concern — an alternative to hemithyroidectomy per NICE guidance.
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Barrett’s oesophagus with dysplasia
Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (HALO/Barrx) for high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal cancer — NICE-approved and widely used.
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Uterine fibroid or heavy periods
MR-guided focused ultrasound for symptomatic fibroids, or NovaSure endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding.
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Painful bone metastasis or essential tremor
HIFU or cryoablation for painful bony metastases (palliative), and MRgFUS thalamotomy for medication-refractory essential tremor.
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Red flag: large or central tumour
Tumours over 5 cm, adjacent to major vessels or bowel, or with distant spread usually need surgery, systemic therapy or radiotherapy — not ablation alone.
Modalities
One idea, many machines.
What each thermal (and one cold) modality actually does, and which problem it fits.
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Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Alternating current through a needle heats tissue to around 60–100 °C. Workhorse for small liver, kidney and thyroid tumours, Barrett’s dysplasia and pain interventions.
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Microwave ablation (MWA)
Microwave energy creates a larger, hotter zone faster than RFA, and is less affected by nearby blood vessels. Increasingly first-line for liver and lung.
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Cryoablation
Freezes tissue to around −40 °C with argon-based probes. Cold rather than heat, but grouped with ablation. Used for kidney, breast, lung, prostate and painful bone metastases.
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Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT)
A fibre-optic laser delivered under MRI guidance for deep-seated brain tumours, epileptic foci and select spinal lesions — minimally invasive neurosurgery.
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High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
Focused ultrasound heats a target through intact skin — used for prostate, uterine fibroids, painful bone metastases and essential tremor. See our HIFU page for detail.
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Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
A photosensitising drug is activated by light to destroy abnormal cells — used for actinic keratosis, superficial BCC and select cholangiocarcinoma.
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Endometrial ablation (NovaSure)
Bipolar radiofrequency ablation of the uterine lining in a 90-second cycle for heavy periods — done under sedation or GA in a day-case setting.
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Argon plasma coagulation & diathermy
Endoscopic APC treats bleeding, small mucosal lesions and Barrett’s dysplasia. Surgical diathermy cuts and coagulates during operations. Both are thermal, both routine.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of ablation units, we picked them.
Interventional radiology and specialty units in London and a handful of regional centres. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every ablation unit in our network.
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Consultant interventional radiologists, oncologists, endoscopists and surgeons — not trainees
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CQC-registered units with modern imaging (CT, ultrasound, MRI) in the same room as the ablation
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Full anaesthetic cover — LA, sedation and GA available depending on modality and site
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MDT decision before booking, and a written follow-up imaging plan afterwards
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Thermal ablation is generally well tolerated, but it is a real procedure with real risks. Here is the plain-English list, and the red flags that mean call the team.
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Post-ablation syndrome is common
A flu-like 24–48 hours with low-grade fever, mild pain and fatigue is expected after larger ablations. Simple painkillers and rest usually see you through.
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Skin burn at the grounding pad
RFA and microwave use a grounding pad on the thigh. Modern pads are safe, but a small skin burn is a recognised risk — the team checks the pad site afterwards.
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Non-target injury to nearby structures
Bowel, ureter, nerves or diaphragm can be injured if too close to the target. Careful planning, hydrodissection and image guidance reduce — but do not eliminate — this risk.
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Bleeding, infection and pneumothorax
A small risk of bleeding or infection with any percutaneous procedure. Lung ablation carries a real risk of pneumothorax — usually managed with a small chest drain.
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Incomplete ablation and recurrence
Larger tumours (over 3 cm), tumours near big vessels (heat-sink), and awkward locations have a higher chance of residual disease. Surveillance imaging is essential.
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General anaesthetic and sedation risk
Where GA or deep sedation is used, standard anaesthetic risks apply — very low in healthy patients, discussed properly with the anaesthetist beforehand.
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DVT and immobility
A short procedure with an overnight stay is not zero risk. TED stockings, early mobilisation and — where indicated — prophylactic heparin are standard.
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When ablation is not the right answer
Larger tumours, multifocal disease or aggressive biology usually need surgery, systemic therapy or radiotherapy — the MDT decision matters more than the modality choice.
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Red flags after ablation
Persistent high fever, worsening pain, breathlessness or heavy bleeding are not normal — call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your procedure note
Your ablation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever modality was used, the note the interventional radiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Ablation language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and modality chosen
Why the ablation was done — tumour type, size, location — and which technique (RFA, microwave, cryo, laser, HIFU, PDT) was agreed at MDT.
- 02 Technique
Anaesthetic, guidance and technique
Whether it was done under LA, sedation or GA, which imaging guided the probe, the energy delivered, and any hydrodissection or protective steps used.
- 03 Findings
Ablation zone and adjacent structures
The size and margin of the ablation zone, whether cover of the tumour looked complete, and any concern about nearby bowel, vessels or nerves.
- 04 Impression
Follow-up imaging and surveillance plan
Read this first: when the next contrast-enhanced scan is booked, what would trigger a repeat ablation, and how it fits with your oncology plan.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for thermal ablation varies by insurer and by indication — usually funded when medically indicated for cancer or benign disease, and reviewed case-by-case for newer applications. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about thermal ablation.
Quick answers on which cancers can be treated, cost, recovery, and how ablation compares to surgery and radiotherapy.
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What is heat treatment to destroy abnormal cells?
An umbrella term for image-guided techniques that use thermal energy — radiofrequency, microwaves, focused ultrasound, laser or light-activated drugs — to heat and destroy a small volume of abnormal tissue while leaving the rest of the organ intact. Cryoablation uses extreme cold and is usually grouped with them.
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When is ablation chosen over surgery?
When the tumour is small, in a location that is technically awkward for surgery, the patient is a high surgical risk, or organ preservation matters (a small kidney or thyroid tumour, for example). It is a specialist decision made at MDT — not a universal alternative to an operation.
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Which cancers can be treated with thermal ablation?
Most commonly: small hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases, small renal tumours (T1a), peripheral lung cancers, benign and selected malignant thyroid nodules, Barrett’s oesophagus with dysplasia, prostate cancer (focal HIFU or cryo), and painful bone metastases. It is not appropriate for large or widespread disease.
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How much does thermal ablation cost privately in the UK?
Roughly £8,000–£14,000 for RFA of a small liver or kidney tumour, £9,000–£15,000 for microwave, £10,000–£18,000 for cryoablation, £25,000–£45,000 for LITT of a brain lesion, and £7,000–£12,000 for MR-guided focused ultrasound of fibroids. We confirm firm quotes across two or three centres.
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What is the recovery like?
Most percutaneous ablations are done as a day case or with one overnight stay. Expect 24–48 hours of flu-like symptoms (post-ablation syndrome), mild pain at the puncture site, and normal light activity within a week. Larger or brain ablations need longer recovery.
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What are the risks of thermal ablation?
Post-ablation syndrome, bleeding, infection, skin burn at the grounding pad, non-target injury to bowel, ureter or nerves, pneumothorax (for lung ablation), incomplete ablation with recurrence, DVT from immobility, and standard risks of any anaesthetic used.
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How is thermal ablation different from radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy uses ionising radiation delivered externally over several sessions. Thermal ablation uses a needle or probe placed directly into the tumour in a single session under imaging guidance. Both destroy tumour cells — the right choice depends on tumour type, location and patient factors.
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Is thermal ablation available on the NHS?
Yes — RFA, microwave and cryoablation for approved indications (small liver, kidney, lung and thyroid tumours; Barrett’s dysplasia; fibroids) are commissioned via specialist tertiary centres. Access can be slow, so patients often self-fund privately for speed.
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Where does Pulse Atlas send patients for ablation?
To CQC-registered units in London and a handful of specialist regional centres where the interventional radiologist, oncologist and surgeon meet weekly. We make introductions privately, once we understand your case.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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HIFU
High-intensity focused ultrasound — the dedicated umbrella page.
Learn more -
Focal therapy for prostate cancer
HIFU, cryo and other tissue-preserving prostate options.
Learn more -
Cryoablation for cancer
Freezing rather than heating — kidney, breast, lung, bone.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more