[Laparoscopic assisted cryoablation of small renal masses].
OBJECTIVE
To review the current status of cryoablation of small renal masses and to preliminary report our experience at the AMC.


METHODS
A bibliographic search was conducted (PubMed/Medline/Embase) and the most important series were analyzed. Our series includes 13 patients with a solitary small renal mass treated by Laparoscopic assisted Cryoblation with fine cryoprobes (1,5 cm diameter). Postoperative follow-up was done by means of CT and/or MRI every three months during the first year and every 6 months during the second year.


RESULTS
There are no randomized trials comparing Cryoblation of renal masses (<4 cm diameter) with either radical surgery or partial nephrectomy but only case series. Complication rate is low as it is the recurrence or persistence rate in most of the series but one referring to radiologically guided Cryoablation (8%). The maximal diameter of the masses treated in our series were 3,2 cm. Tumors were approached retro or transperitoneally depending on their localization in the kidney. Average surgical time were 208 minutes (108-379) and average time of exposition to temperatures lower than -20 degrees C in the tumor periphery was 10 minutes. AT a mean follow-up of 8 months no tumoral recurrence were objectivated.


CONCLUSIONS
Cryoablation of small renal masses may be an acceptable alternative of treatment although mean follow-up is still short in all the series.
Laguna Pes
M P
MP
Servicio de Urologia, AMC Universidad de Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holanda. m.p.lagunapes@amc.uva.nl
Lagerveld
B
B
Witte
L P W
LP
Kummerlin
I
I
Wijkstra
H
H
de la Rosette
J J M C H
JJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged