title: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for renal angiomyolipoma (AML): an alternative to angio-embolization and nephron-sparing surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is safe and effective treatment for renal angiomyolipoma (AML). Current treatments to reduce the risk of haemorrhage include tumour extirpation, angio-embolization, or ablative therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of our prospective database revealed 15 patients with intraoperative biopsy confirmed renal AML undergoing RFA from February 2002 to March 2010. Patients underwent either laparoscopic or computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous RFA using either the Cool-tip™ (Covidien, Inc. Boulder, CO, USA) or RITA™ (Angiodynamics(®), Latham, NY, USA) RFA probe. CT at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, two male and 13 female patients with seven left-sided and eight right-sided tumours with a mean (range) size of 2.6 (1.0-3.7) cm underwent laparoscopic (five) or CT-guided (10) RFA. No intraoperative complications occurred. Minor complications included transient haematuria and intercostals nerve transection. Surgical complications included pneumonia and myocardial infarction. There was no radiographic evidence of persistent AML (CT enhancement) at a mean follow-up of 21 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The haemostatic effect of RFA allows renal lesions suspicious for AML to be treated without bleeding complications. Avoids surgical risk of extirpation or embolization. RFA for renal AML is safe and effective.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endourology, Laparoscopy, and Minimally-Invasive Surgery, Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: Vladislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gorbatiy
authors.forename: Obi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekwenna
authors.forename: Ezekiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Leveillee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018207:Angiomyolipoma / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies