DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant disease with a bone lesion that appears to be metastatic disease by clinical and/or imaging techniques
• Persistent intractable pain from a solitary site of bone metastases (greater than 5 on pain scale of 0-10)
• Bone metastasis must be amenable to radiofrequency ablation using a percutaneous CT-guided approach
• Bone metastasis must be no greater than 8 cm
• No tumor mass in contact with hollow viscera
• No primary musculoskeletal malignancies, lymphoma, or leukemia
• No spinal metastases that do not have an intact cortex between the mass and the spinal canal and exiting nerve roots
• No tumor involving weight-bearing long bone of lower extremity or impending fracture

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 21 and over

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Platelet count at least 70,000/mm^3
• No uncontrolled coagulopathy or bleeding diathesis that cannot be corrected with fresh frozen plasma and platelets

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Not specified

Cardiovascular:

• No pacemaker

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• At least 14 days since prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• No concurrent systemic chemotherapy for metastatic disease during and for 14 days after study therapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• At least 30 days since prior radioisotopes for metastatic disease
• No concurrent systemic radioisotopes for metastatic disease

Surgery:

• No surgical stabilization of tumor site with metallic hardware

Other:

• Prior aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, antiplatelet medications, or warfarin must be discontinued for an appropriate period of time prior to study based on the drug's half-life and known antiplatelet activity (e.g., 7 days for aspirin and 24 hours for ibuprofen)
• At least 24 hours since prior low molecular weight heparin