What type of damage does thermal ablation cause to tissue?

Thermal ablation primarily causes protein denaturation and cell death in the targeted tissues. This process involves the application of heat, which raises the temperature of the cells significantly. At high temperatures, proteins within the cells begin to lose their structural integrity, leading to denaturation. This denaturation disrupts normal cellular functions and can result in irreversible damage.

As the heat continues to affect the tissue, it can also cause cellular death through mechanisms such as coagulation necrosis. The elevated temperatures exceed the thresholds necessary for proper cellular metabolism, ultimately halting critical biological processes and leading to tissue damage and cell lysis.

In comparison, other options present processes that do not accurately represent the effects of thermal ablation. Cell division and growth, for instance, would typically entail a healing response and are not consistent with the destructive nature of thermal ablation. Similarly, cellular swelling and regeneration suggest a tissue response indicative of healing rather than the immediate effects of direct thermal damage. Increased cellular metabolism would imply that the cells are functioning optimally or even overactive, which contradicts the reality that thermal ablation depletes cellular function due to the overwhelming damage caused by heat.