title: Cryoablation vs. radiofrequency ablation for small renal masses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer of the kidney is the third most common cancer of the urinary tract, and renal cell carcinoma is the most lethal of all genitourinary tumors. The incidental discovery of renal cell carcinoma has increased with increased use of cross-sectional imaging. Concomitantly, minimally invasive ablative technologies, including image-guided cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and others, have evolved as therapeutic options for small renal masses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2006 and 2009, 111 patients (age range, 31-91 years; mean age, 70 years) underwent percutaneous computed tomography-guided thermal ablation for suspected renal cell carcinoma at two major academic centers. Outcomes data were retrospectively collected and analyzed to compare recurrence rates for patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (n = 41) versus cryoablation (n = 70).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were four cases of suspicious enhancement on follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in each group, with cumulative imaging recurrence rates of 11% and 7% for radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation, respectively. Log rank test analysis revealed no significant difference between rates of imaging recurrence between the two groups (P = .6044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the use of cryoablative technology will result in similar outcomes compared with radiofrequency ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pirasteh
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boncher
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Prologo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D053783:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome