title: Computed tomography imaging-guided percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation of muscle-invasive bladder cancer: initial experience in 32 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the initial clinical experience of computed tomography (CT) imaging-guided percutaneous cryotherapy of bladder cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was approved by the human subjects committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Thirty-two patients (22 males and 10 females; mean age, 62.7 years) with muscle-invasive bladder cancer were treated with CT imaging-guided percutaneous cryoablation. By using CT imaging system and local anesthesia in patients, a single or multiple 1.47 mm cryoprobes were used to freeze the target bladder tumor (mean tumor size, 2.8 cm; range, 1.3-4.5 cm) with a dual freeze-thaw cycle. Follow-up was performed to assess the clinical and technical outcome of patients treated with cryoablation for a minimum of 6 months (mean, 33 months; range, 6-48 months). Tumors were considered completely ablated if there was no evidence to suggest tumor enhancement at follow-up CT images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bladder cryoablation was clinically and technically successful in all 32 cases, 30 of which required only one treatment session. Bladder integrity was maintained in all patients. Major complications were not observed in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our initial experience of a minimally invasive method for ablating bladder tumors with CT imaging-guided percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation appears to be favorable, with acceptable operative and short-term clinical outcomes. The technique is safe and effective for the treatment of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer; however, long-term follow-up is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, China. Electronic address: lijunsunxian@126.com.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Heliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Jianlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Weiying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001128:Argon / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006371:Helium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D006371:Helium; D001128:Argon
keywords: Argon–helium cryoablation; Bladder cancer; Computed tomography