What is the effect of increasing tissue temperature during RF procedures?

Increasing tissue temperature during radiofrequency (RF) procedures is directly related to the effectiveness of the lesioning process. When the temperature rises, the thermal energy delivered to the tissue facilitates cellular destruction, leading to coagulation and necrosis. As a result, higher temperatures generally lead to larger lesions because more extensive areas of the tissue are affected by the thermal energy. This is critical in various clinical applications where achieving the desired lesion size is important for treatment efficacy. Consequently, the relationship between temperature and lesion size is pivotal; increasing the temperature enhances the depth and extent of tissue damage, thus increasing the lesion size.