Tips and Tricks for Successful Percutaneous Cryoablation of Large Renal Cell Carcinomas

Tomography. 2022 Oct 15;8(5):2604-2608. doi: 10.3390/tomography8050217.

Abstract

Percutaneous cryoablation has proved to be safe and effective for the treatment of stage T1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients with larger-sized RCCs may not be good surgical candidates or may have tumors located in anatomically unfavorable locations, which makes partial nephrectomy more challenging. In this patient population, percutaneous cryoablation can be considered a treatment option, given its less invasive nature when compared to surgery. The ablation of larger-sized RCCs requires careful planning to ensure that the tumor volume is completely covered within the ablation zone, while minimizing the risks of non-target injury to the surrounding critical organs. In this article, we share our institutional experience in treating larger-sized RCCs (> 4 cm) using percutaneous cryoablation alone. We discuss strategies to maximize the volume of the ablation zone through the precise placement of the probes. We also shed light on different techniques to protect the surrounding structures during cryoablation.

Keywords: RCC; cryoablation; percutanous ablation; renal ablation; renal cell carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell* / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell* / etiology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell* / surgery
  • Cryosurgery* / adverse effects
  • Cryosurgery* / methods
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Nephrectomy / methods
  • Retrospective Studies

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.