Korean J Radiol.  2008 Aug;9(4):340-347. 10.3348/kjr.2008.9.4.340.

Radiofrequency Ablation Treatment for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Early Clinical Experience

• Park SH
• Yoon SK
• Cho JH
• Oh JY
• Nam KJ
• Kwon HJ
• Kim SY
• Kang MJ
• Choi S
• Sung GT

• KMID: 1076460
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2008.9.4.340

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the early clinical experience associated with radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The RF ablation treatment was performed on 17 tumors from 16 patients (mean age, 60.5 years; range, 43-73 years) with RCC. The treatment indications were localized, solid renal mass, comorbidities, high operation risk, and refusal to perform surgery. All tumors were treated by a percutaneous CT (n = 10), followed by an US-guided (n = 2), laparoscopy-assisted US (n = 2), and an open (n = 2) RF ablation. Furthermore, patients underwent a follow-up CT at one day, one week, one month, three and six months, and then every six months from the onset of treatment. We evaluated the technical success, technical effectiveness, ablation zone, benign periablation enhancement, irregular peripheral enhancement, and complications. RESULTS: All 17 exophytic tumors (mean size, 2.2 cm; range, 1.1-5.0 cm) were completely ablated. Technical success and effectiveness was achieved in all cases and the mean follow-up period was 23.8 months (range, 17-33 months). A local recurrence was not detected in any of the cases; however, five patients developed complications as a result of treatment, including hematuria (n = 2), mild thermal injury of the psoas muscle (n = 1), mild hydronephrosis (n = 1), and fistula formation (n = 1). CONCLUSION: The RF ablation is an alternative treatment for exophytic RCCs and represents a promising treatment for some patients with small RCCs.

Keyword

Radiofrequency ablation; Renal tumors; Kidney tumors

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/radiography/*surgery
*Catheter Ablation/adverse effects
Female
Humans
Kidney Neoplasms/radiography/*surgery
Male
Middle Aged
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Well ablated, small exophytic renal cell carainoma in 56-year-old woman who underwent RF ablation. A. Contrast-enhanced CT scan before RF ablation demonstrates solid enhancing exophytic renal tumor located at lower polar region of left kidney (arrow). B. RF ablation of tumor was performed under CT guidance. Unenhanced CT scan during treatment demonstrates electrode within renal tumor (arrow). C. One-month follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrates no periablation enhancement or residual contrast enhancement within tumor bed (arrow), indicating technical success. D. Two-year follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrates no areas of abnormal contrast enhancement within tumor and shows further decrease in size of renal tumor (arrow).

• 

  Fig. 2 Small exophytic renal cell carcinoma in 45-year-old woman. A. Contrast-enhanced CT before RF ablation demonstrates enhancing exophytic renal tumor located at lower polar region of right kidney (arrow). B. One-day follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrates peripheral, curvilinear enhancement (arrow) in ablated tumor, indicating possible reactive hyperemia or remnant tumor. C. One-month follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrates no previous peripheral enhancement (arrow) and any residual contrast enhancement within tumor, suggesting benign periablation enhancement. D. Two-year follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrates no evidence of enhancement within ablation zone (arrow).

• 

  Fig. 3 Development of mild hydronephrosis in 73-year-old male patient who underwent RF ablation for renal cell carcinoma. A. Contrast-enhanced CT scan before RF ablation reveals 1.6 cm solid enhancing exophytic renal tumor located at lower polar region of right kidney (arrow). B. Three-month follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan shows no remnant contrast enhancement (arrow) in tumor but reveals mild hydronephrosis (arrowheads) in right kidney. Patient did not require interventional procedure for hydronephrosis.

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