Kidney Tumor Cryoablation is as Effective but Cheaper and Safer than Laparoscopic Surgery

The nonsurgical image-guided treatment of kidney tumors — cryoablation – - is as effective as the laparoscopic technique in viable candidates.

Such is the research finding recently reported at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting.

The comparative trial shows that percutaneous cryoablation results in a slightly lower recurrence rate of the tumor, a shorter hospital stay, no major complications, and a 59.5 percent lower hospital cost than the laparoscopic treatment.

During cryoablation argon gas enters the tip of the probe and extracts heat from the surrounding cells, resulting in an “ice ball” that freezes and kills the tumor – sparing the majority of the healthy kidney tissue.

Both radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation have been approved by the USFDA for use in soft tissue tumors (includes renal cell carcinoma).

Read the full report (a pdf file).