title: Percutaneous renal cryoablation: current status.
abstract: Over the last 13 years, renal cryoablation has emerged as a promising technique for the treatment of solid renal tumors. The improvement in imaging modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography and MRI, as well as the introduction of thinner probes, has led to the spread of the minimally invasive percutaneous approach. We review the historical background of percutaneous renal cryoablation (PRC), present its basic principles, mention the contemporary clinical data and outcomes of this technique and suggest future directions for its wider application in renal tumors. Early results have demonstrated that it may offer an alternative for the treatment of small renal masses with the advantages of minimal complications, spared renal function, decreased overall costs and equivalent oncologic efficacy. Long-term results are required in order to apply this minimally invasive technique to a broader spectrum of patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, Second Department of Urology, Sismanoglio Hospital, 89 Agiou Ioannou Street, Agia Paraskevi 15342, Athens, Greece. evmazaris@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Evangelos M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mazaris
authors.forename: Ioannis M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Varkarakis
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome