12th January 2026
Health Technology Wales: Publication of guidance on thermal ablation to treat colorectal cancer liver metastases in adults
Health Technology Wales has published new guidance recommending the routine adoption of thermal ablation as a treatment option for colorectal cancer liver metastases in adults in Wales who are eligible for surgical resection.
Metastases is the term for cancer that spreads to another part of the body. When cancer starts in the colon or rectum, metastases are often found in the liver. These are known as colorectal liver metastases.
Usually, treatment can be surgery to remove part of the liver, a form of surgical resection. However thermal ablation can be offered to patients that are not suitable for this surgery. Thermal ablation is a treatment where heat is used to destroy the cancer cells.
HTW’s guidance recommends that thermal ablation can also be offered to adults that are suitable for surgical resection for overall survival and progression-free survival outcomes. It also found that there is evidence of reduced complications and length of hospital stays compared to surgical resection.
A cost analysis of the treatment by HTW found that thermal ablation is expected to be a cost saving treatment option.