Didactics-Whats new in Thermal Ablation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Rachel Masch, an obstetrician-gynecologist in NYC, discussed advancements in thermal ablation (TA) for cervical cancer treatment. Collaborating with IGCS and Basic Health International, she aims to eliminate cervical cancer globally. While thermal ablation isn't new, recent research could help standardize its application. Developed in the 1960s, it's used across the UK and involves using heat, not cold, for tissue ablation, showing up to 94% cure rates in high-resource settings.<br /><br />New portable devices are electricity-independent, inexpensive, and user-friendly, allowing non-physicians to perform treatments. The WHO issued TA guidelines in 2019, but best practices remain undetermined, with varying treatment durations and protocols. Dr. Masch's research shows TA's high efficacy in treating cervical lesions, comparable to traditional cryotherapy. The talk emphasized the need for standardized protocols and future research, particularly for women with HIV, who exhibit higher persistent disease rates after treatment. Integrating AI for risk stratification and protocol optimization is also being explored.

Asset Subtitle

Rachel Masch
February 2025

Keywords

thermal ablation

cervical cancer

Dr. Rachel Masch

portable devices

treatment protocols

AI integration