ABSTRACT
Introduction The use of radiofrequency (RF) in medicine and surgery has been applied to a variety of clinical situations in the last two decades. Low-voltage diathermy is used for uterine cervical curettage. RF was first used in the field of cardiology for ablation of aberrant conduction pathways in 1987. Transurethral devices are used today for management of prostatic hypertrophy. RF is also used for neuroablation in the management of pain disorders and for palliation of malignancies. The translation of this technology to otolaryngology seems natural. A computerized delivery system which monitors time, temperature and energy delivered was patented by Somnus Technologies, Sunnyvale, California, USA.
