What is the primary characteristic that differentiates cryoablation from RF ablation?

The primary characteristic that differentiates cryoablation from RF (radiofrequency) ablation is that cryoablation relies on freezing rather than heating to destroy tissue. In cryoablation, extreme cold is used to induce cell death, which can effectively target abnormal tissues such as tumors or diseased areas without the thermal damage associated with RF ablation. RF ablation, on the other hand, uses heat generated by radiofrequency waves to achieve its therapeutic effect.

Frozen tissue undergoes ice crystal formation, which disrupts cellular integrity and causes apoptosis, while RF ablation typically raises the temperature of the tissue to the point where cellular proteins denature, leading to coagulative necrosis. This fundamental difference in the mechanism of action is the key characteristic that sets cryoablation apart from RF ablation.

The other options reflect misconceptions about cryoablation's nature or procedural requirements, which do not accurately convey its unique features.