Cryosurgery uses small needles (similar to the ones used to draw blood) to form ice balls that are up to five centimeters in length.
These extremely cold temperatures are able to kill prostate or kidney cancers. Several studies reported an acceptable oncological outcome and low morbidity.
In a kidney cryoablation procedure, cryosurgery is done by laparoscopic guidance under general anesthesia.
Renal lesions are biopsied (one to three cores) under laparoscopic ultrasonographic guidance using an 18 gauge biopsy needle before ablation. Then, cryoneedles and thermal sensors are placed into the kidney tumor laparoscopically.
Additionally, the iceball is monitored using real-time ultrasonography during the operation, ensuring destruction of the entire tumor as well as the desired margin of surrounding tissue.
Potential Benefits of Cryosurgery
These apply to populations of patients in general, but the individual patient may have a different experience.
- Often minimally invasive
- Usually can be repeated, if necessary
- Overnight observation
- Usually minimal pain
- Often quick recovery to normal activities
- Generally effective cancer treatment for selected patients
- Mostly minimal side effects
- High patient satisfaction rate
- Targeted therapy, under image guidance
Who Is a Candidate for Kidney Cryoablation?
Potential candidates for kidney cryoablation are those patients:
- With a localized, small kidney tumor,
- Who may not tolerate the morbidity of conventional surgery, and
- Who have a high risk of recurrence with genetic syndromes associated with RCC, such as von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, hereditary papillary cell carcinoma, or hereditary clear-cell carcinoma.
Learn more about urologic cancer:
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