The role of embolization in reducing the complications of cryoablation in renal cell carcinoma - Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether embolization prior to cryoablation would decrease morbidity without negative effects on tissue pathology, renal function, or recurrence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The electronic medical records of all patients undergoing cryoablation for renal cell carcinomas were reviewed for lesion size, pre-ablative renal function, post-ablative renal function, post-ablative complications, recurrence, and quality of biopsy specimen. Comparisons were made between patients who underwent cryoablation (the Cryo-Only group) and those who underwent cryoablation after same-day coil embolization of their lesion (the Cryo-Embo group). Further comparison was made between the Cryo-Embo lesions and the subset of larger Cryo-Only lesions (≥3 cm), which were expected to have a higher natural complication rate.

RESULTS: A total of 21 lesions in 19 patients were treated by percutaneous cryoablation (17 Cryo-Only, four Cryo-Embo). Complications were seen in 83% of the large Cryo-Only lesions (average size 3.6 cm), whereas no complication was seen amongst Cryo-Embo lesions (average size 4 cm). Embolization significantly decreased complications between size-matched lesions (p = 0.048) without impacting renal function (p = 1), biopsy quality (p = 1), or recurrence (p = 1).

CONCLUSION: Performance of trans-arterial embolization prior to cryoablation of large renal cell carcinomas significantly decreases complications, such as haemorrhage, without a discernible effect on biopsy quality, renal function, or recurrence rate.

Written by:
Miller JM, Julien P, Wachsman A, Van Allan RJ, Friedman ML.   Are you the author?
Department of Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.  

Reference: Clin Radiol. 2014 Oct;69(10):1045-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2014.05.110


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25037148

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