Probably the most important use for RF energy is in providing telecommunications services. Radio and television broadcasting, cellular telephones, personal communications services (PCS), pagers, cordless telephones, business radio, radio communications for police and fire departments, amateur radio, microwave point-to-point links and satellite communications are just a few of the many telecommunications applications of RF energy.

RF electromagnetic wave or RF "field" has both an electric and a magnetic component (electric field and magnetic field), and it is often convenient to express the intensity of the RF environment at a given location in terms of units specific for each component. See similar questions...

Some studies have also examined the possibility of a link between RF and microwave exposure and cancer. Results to date have been inconclusive. While some experimental data have suggested a possible link between exposure and tumor formation in animals exposed under certain specific conditions, the results have not been independently replicated. In fact, other studies have failed to find evidence for a causal link to cancer or any related condition. See similar questions...

Radiofrequency (RF) fields are part of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. The EM spectrum is divided into ionizing and non-ionizing bands based on how the wave interacts with biological tissue. The non-ionizing portion, usually in the frequency range up to 300 GHz, doesn't affect biological tissue and includes the extremely low frequency (ELF) band, radio waves and microwaves in the radiofrequency communication band, and infrared and visible light. See similar questions...

The cause of chronic pain is not clear. When you have an injury or illness, certain nerves send pain signals to your brain. With chronic pain, these pain signals continue for weeks, months, or even years after you recover. Chronic pain can develop after a major injury or illness, such as a back injury or shingles, or it can develop without a known cause. It is also possible that certain brain chemicals that usually suppress pain may not work properly. See similar questions...

If facet joint injections help only temporarily, RF nerve ablation may help long-term. Under X-ray guidance, a fine needle is placed over the small nerves that supply the facet joint and the tip of the needle is heated using radio-frequency energy and the joint is denervated. This procedure can help alleviate pain coming from the facet. See similar questions...

No, ablation does not relate in any way to a coronary artery. Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary is the defining point to PTCA. Is the PTCA/Athr Intvl field tracking time between the last prior PTCA and CABG? So if a patient had a PTCA in 1984 and a CABG in 2000, would it be marked >6 hours? Or does this field pertain to PTCA/Ather Intvl during the admission of the CABG. Yes. Primary or direct stenting is done without angioplasty. All stent placement does not require angioplasty. See similar questions...

Radiofrequency Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (RAUP) is a highly successful procedure to help your snoring. In RAUP, the vibrations of the soft tissues (palate) which cause snoring are reduced. A device using radiofrequency waves is inserted into the palate in several places. During the healing process, the normal tissue is replaced by a small amount of scar tissue. This new tissue is smaller and firmer; therefore, the vibrations of the palate are lessened and snoring is improved. See similar questions...

Radiofrequency ablation is administered in the same manner as the ELAS procedure, but uses RF energy rather than laser energy to heat the vein to cause the vein to shrink. However, studies have shown that the ELAS procedure has a higher rate of acceptable results3. See similar questions...

Studies have shown that environmental levels of RF energy routinely encountered by the general public are typically far below levels necessary to produce significant heating and increased body temperature. However, there may be situations, particularly workplace environments near high- powered RF sources, where recommended limits for safe exposure of human beings to RF energy could be exceeded. In such cases, restrictive measures or actions may be necessary to ensure the safe use of RF energy. See similar questions...

Although relatively few offices or agencies within the Federal Government routinely deal with the issue of human exposure to RF fields, it is possible to obtain information and assistance on certain topics from the following federal agencies. Most of these agencies also have Internet Web sites. See similar questions...

X-rays have enough energy to cause ionization, that is, break the bonds that hold molecules, thus creating positive and negative electrically charged atoms. Therefore x-rays have the potential to disrupt DNA, the building blocks of cells of the body. As a result, excessive doses of x-rays can cause adverse effects, including cancer. Radiofrequency radiation is different, in that it does not cause ionization. See similar questions...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that "although hazards from exposure to high level (thermal) radiofrequency fields were established, no known health hazards were associated with exposure to radiofrequency sources emitting fields too low to cause a significant temperature rise in tissue." Biological effects from low-level radiofrequency exposures were identified as needing further study. See similar questions...

RFA has been used with success to treat primary liver cancer (otherwise known as hepatocellular carcinoma) and cancers that have spread to the liver from other places, such as colon cancer. Surgical resection of these tumors in carefully selected patients can lead to significant long-term survival but only a small percentage of these patients are candidates for surgery. See similar questions...

There are three basic types of systems used for RF ablation procedures. The specific RFA system and guidance method are chosen based on location and size of the tumor to be treated, proximity of large vessels, bleeding risk, the pathway that the needle-electrode has to take to enter the tumor, and the importance of minimizing collateral damage. The systems differ based on the length and configuration of the active tip of the needle-electrode. See similar questions...

Before the procedure, you will be asked to have nothing to eat or drink starting at midnight the evening before treatment. Your list of medications will be reviewed with our staff at the time of your consultation and you will be told which medications you may take in the morning of the procedure. If you are taking Coumadin, Plavix, or another blood thinner, you may need to stop taking that medication several days before the procedure. See similar questions...

Based on available data, outcomes appear to be excellent for patients with unresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Reports show that well over 3,000 primary and metastatic liver tumors have been treated with RFA. These studies suggest that complete local response can be seen in 70-75% of patients with tumors ranging in diameter between 3 and 5 cm. See similar questions...

After the procedure, you may receive additional medication to prevent pain and nausea as the sedation wears off. Almost all of our patients are admitted overnight after the procedure to make sure that any pain is addressed with medication and to be certain that there are no post-procedure complications. You will need someone to take you home on the morning after the procedure. Once you arrive home, you can expect to have some mild post-procedure side effects. See similar questions...

Procedure-related complications tend to be unusual after RFA and tend to be dependent on the part of the body being treated. See similar questions...