Percutaneous renal cryoablation: experience treating 115 tumors.
OBJECTIVE
We determined technical feasibility, safety and short-term outcomes following percutaneous renal cryoablation.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of 115 renal tumors in 110 patients treated with percutaneous cryoablation. Specific attention was directed to tumor characteristics, hospital course, complications, technical success and treatment success based on followup imaging.


RESULTS
Mean tumor size was 3.3 cm (range 1.5 to 7.3), including 29 tumors 4.0 cm or larger and 21 tumors in the anterior kidney. Of 90 renal mass biopsies performed 52 (58%) showed renal cell carcinoma. All patients were admitted to the hospital following cryoablation and most (87%) were discharged home the next day (range 1 to 12 days). There were 7 major complications associated with the 113 cryoablation procedures (6%). Technical success was achieved in 112 of the 115 (97%) treated tumors and 3 residual tumors were seen on 3-month followup imaging. There has been no local progression in 80 tumors (100% treatment success) followed 3 months or longer (mean 13.3 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous renal cryoablation is technically feasible and relatively safe. With experience many anterior tumors and tumors larger than 4 cm can be successfully treated. Long-term followup remains necessary to prove treatment durability.
Atwell
Thomas D
TD
Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA. atwell.thomas@mayo.edu
Farrell
Michael A
MA
Leibovich
Bradley C
BC
Callstrom
Matthew R
MR
Chow
George K
GK
Blute
Michael L
ML
Charboneau
J William
JW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome