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Being diagnosed with kidney (renal) cancer can be an incredibly stressful time, but medical advances mean that today, the chances of you beating the disease are better than ever before. Historically, the only option was surgery to remove either the whole kidney (nephrectomy) or the part of the kidney where the tumor was located (partial nephrectomy). Now, there are treatments available which require only small incisions or none at all.
Knowing the symptoms
Treating kidney cancer with cryoablation
Cryoablation uses extremely cold temperatures to create ice that physicians can shape or sculpt to engulf and kill the tumor2,3 while preserving surrounding tissues. For patients who are suitable for cryoablation, it offers many benefits, including:
- Over 25 years of published data supporting its safety and effectiveness2
- Similar results compared to surgery in smaller tumors
- Proven effectiveness in treating 95% of targeted renal tumors3-6
- Preserves renal function by protecting healthy tissue7-8
- A minimally invasive option:
- Small to no incisions
- Low complication rate with minimal discomfort5,9-11
- Excellent recovery time, with short or no hospital stay and rapid return to normal activities5,8,12
- May be suitable for
- Multiple and small tumors5,8,11
- Large tumors (up to 7 cm) where surgery is not recommended6,8,10
- Repeat treatments (after previous cryotherapy or after another procedure such as surgery)13,14
- Tumors positioned close to structures which might risk being damaged with other types of treatment8,9,12,15,16
Real world results
Data shows cryoablation provides clinically similar outcomes compared to other standard treatments for kidney cancer, including partial nephrectomy and radiofrequency ablation.17 For T1a masses under 4 cm, differences between partial nephrectomy and cryoablation treatments are not likely. Treatment choice should be discussed with your physician.
Overall, cryoablation may be associated with longer overall survival compared with heat-based thermal ablation in T1a RCC under 4 cm.18
Kaplan-Meier Survival Estimates - 1
How it works
Understand how cryoablation targets and destroys kidney cancer
Understanding a cryoablation treatment
How long does a procedure take?
Although each case is different, using the percutaneous approach typically lasts one to two hours while a laparoscopic kidney cryoablation procedure usually takes between two-and-a-half to three hours.
How will I feel after the procedure?
Often patients are asked to take it easy for one to two days after the procedure, but many return to normal activity the next day.
How long will I need to stay at the hospital?
Length of stay will vary by patient and procedure. Typically, patients will be discharged the day of the procedure, however some physicians may prefer their patients to stay for at least one night after a cryoablation procedure.
Will insurance cover this procedure?
Consult your insurance carrier to find out the specific criteria for coverage. The reimbursement specialist at your physician’s office may also be able to help you with this.
More support
References
1. American Cancer Society. What is Kidney Cancer? Jan 2019
2. Kunkle DA, Uzzo RG. Cancer 2008; 113(10): 2671-80
3. Rodriguez R, Cizman Z, Hong K et al. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2011; 34: 573-8
4. Guazzoni G, Cestari A, Buffi N et al. Urology 2010; 76: 624-9
5. Georgiades CS, Rodriguez R. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2014; 37(6): 1494-9
6. Atwell TD, Callstrom MR, Farrell MA et al. J Urol 2010; 184: 1291-5
7. Lucas SM, Cadeddu JA. J Endourol 2010; 24(5) doi.org/10.1089/end.2009.0442
8. Buy X, Lang H, Garnon J et al. Am J Roentgenol 2013; 201(6): 1353-61
9. Allaf ME, Varkarakis IM, Bhayani SB et al. Radiology 2005; 237(1): 366-70
10. Breen DJ, Bryant TJ, Abbas A et al. BJU Int 2013; 112: 758-65
11. Yan X, Zhang M, Chen X et al. W J Surg Oncol 2015; 13: 200
12. Littrup P, Ahmed A, Aoun H et al. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2007; 18: 383-92
13. Okhunov Z, Chamberlin J, Moreira DM. J Endourol 2016 Jun; 30(6): 632-7
14. Morgan MA, Roberts NR, Pino LA et al. Can J Urol 2014; 20(5): 6933-7
15. Rosenberg MD, Kim CY, Tsivian M et al. Am J Roentgenol 2011; 196: 935-9
16. Park SH, Kang SH, Yo YH et al. Korean J Urol 2010; 51(8): 518-24
17. Andrews JR, Atwell T, Schmit G, Lohse CM, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(2):244-251
18. Wu J, Chang J, Bai, HX et al. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2019; 30(7): 1027-33e3