title: Microwave ablation of renal tumors: A narrative review of technical considerations and clinical results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this review was to identify the specific technical considerations to adequately perform microwave ablations (MWA) of renal tumors and analyze the currently available clinical results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Medline, a systematic review was performed including articles published between January 2000 and September 2016. English language original articles, reviews and editorials were selected based on their clinical relevance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MWA has several theoretical advantages over radiofrequency ablation in consistently providing higher intratumoral temperatures. MWA is less dependent of electrical conductivities of tissues and the delivered energy is less limited by desiccation of heated tissues. While there are insufficient data, especially because of a lack of studies with mid- to long-term follow-up, to determine the oncologic effectiveness of MWA, this technique appears safe and effective for the ablation of T1 renal tumors. There is evidence for using mid-level settings based on experimental and clinical data. Power set at 50-65W for 5-15min appears adequate in kidney but close clinical and imaging follow-up have to be performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal MWA offers theoretical advantages by comparison with other available techniques to treat renal tumors. However, MWA suffers of less cumulative data compared to radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation. Moreover, microwaves still require further studies to identify the optimal tumor characteristics and device settings leading to predictable ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of radiology, Tenon hospital, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France. Electronic address: cornelisfrancois@gmail.com.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Cornelis
authors.affiliation: Department of radiology, Pellegrin hospital, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcelin
authors.affiliation: Department of urology, Pellegrin hospital, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bernhard
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009336:Necrosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Interventional imaging; Kidney; Microwave ablation; Renal ablation; Renal cancer