Table 10.

Factors affecting radiofrequency lesion generation

Radiofrequency element	Electrophysiological principle
Distance from active tip	Heat generation=1/(radius from active tip)220 Tissue heating decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the active tip.
RFA current intensity*	Heat generation=(current density)14 Heat generated from RFA is directly proportional to current density. Current intensity has a strong influence on tissue heating.
Duration of RF application	The duration of heating influences lesion size.

*Tip size as determined by the gauge of the needle and the length of the active tip influences RF current intensity.

RF, radiofrequency; RFA, radiofrequency ablation