CaliToday (04/11/2025): The non-invasive cryoablation procedure is being hailed as "life-changing" by patients, offering a same-day alternative to major surgery for debilitating pain.
A major hospital in south-west Sydney is pioneering a new frontier in cancer and tumor treatment, introducing a groundbreaking MRI machine that can destroy tumors by freezing them, eliminating the need for invasive surgery.
Liverpool Hospital is the first facility in Australia to use this state-of-the-art, MRI-guided cryoablation system. The technology offers a new lifeline to patients suffering from severe pain, particularly from tumors in complex areas like the spine, liver, and kidneys.
The procedure itself sounds like science fiction. Guided by the real-time, high-definition imaging of the MRI, doctors navigate a specialized, gas-powered needle directly into the target tumor. The needle then rapidly drops the temperature, encasing the tumor in what doctors describe as an "iceball." This extreme cold effectively kills the target tissue (a process called cryoablation) while leaving the delicate surrounding nerves and healthy tissue largely unharmed.
For patients, the benefits are immediate and profound. Instead of a major operation involving bone removal, screws, and lengthy hospital stays, patients can often return home the same day.
A "Life-Changing" Relief from Pain
The human impact of this technology is already being felt. Josephine Cordina, a 64-year-old grandmother, was suffering from a nine-millimetre tumor pressing directly on her spine. The pain was constant and debilitating.
She became one of the first to undergo the new procedure. The result was almost instantaneous.
“The next day I had no pain, it was all gone and I’m back to normal,” Ms. Cordina said, describing the technology as "life-changing."
Dr. Glenn Schlaphoff, the lead interventional radiologist for the program, explained the precision of the technique. "The frozen tumor essentially 'neatly dies off'," he said. This controlled destruction spares patients from highly invasive operations, offering a powerful new tool in the fight against pain.
"It provides a very precise way to treat tumors that cause severe pain," Dr. Schlaphoff added, noting its effectiveness in areas where traditional surgery would be high-risk.
A New Era for Liverpool Hospital
This advanced system is a cornerstone of Liverpool Hospital’s massive, nearly $1 billion redevelopment, which is set to transform healthcare in the region. The redevelopment also includes plans for a new, world-class cancer centre scheduled to open in 2027.
The introduction of MRI-guided cryoablation could mark a significant paradigm shift in how Australian hospitals manage tumor-related pain. By replacing the scalpel with a needle and ice, it brings the promise of faster relief, shorter hospital stays, and a dramatically improved quality of life for patients.