Korean J Radiol.  2012 Oct;13(5):625-633. 10.3348/kjr.2012.13.5.625.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Renal Tumors: Four-Year Follow-Up Results in 47 Patients

• Kim SD
• Yoon SG
• Sung GT

• KMID: 1392942
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2012.13.5.625

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively evaluate the intermediate results of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of small renal masses (SRMs).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Percutaneous or laparoscopic RFA was performed on 48 renal tumors in 47 patients. The follow-up studies included a physical examination, chest radiography, creatinine level, and contrast-enhanced CT or MRI. To confirm the pathologic criteria of complete ablation, 35 patients underwent a follow-up biopsy. Recurrence was defined as contrast enhancement on imaging studies after 3 months, lesion growth at subsequent imaging, or viable cancer cells on follow-up biopsy.
RESULTS
Technical success was achieved in 43 (89.6%) of 48 renal tumors. The mean tumor size was 2.3 cm and the mean follow-up period was 49.6 months. Repeated RFA was necessary in 5 tumors due to incomplete ablation. The overall complication rate was 35.8%, of which 96.2% were mild complications. Serum creatinine levels at 12 months after RFA did not differ from those before RFA (1.28 vs. 1.36 mg/dL). Four patients were found to have recurrence at various follow-up intervals, and distant metastasis was not found in any cases.
CONCLUSION
RFA appears to be a useful treatment for selected patients with SRMs. Our 4-year follow-up results disclose an excellent therapeutic outcome with RFA, while achieving effective local tumor control.

Keyword

Radiofrequency ablation; Kidney tumors; Minimally invasive surgical procedures

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Catheter Ablation/*methods
Contrast Media/diagnostic use
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Kidney Neoplasms/*surgery
Laparoscopy
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Postoperative Complications
Radiography, Thoracic
Reoperation
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Well ablated, small intraparenchymal renal cell carcinoma in 62-year-old male who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA). A. Contrast-enhanced CT scan before RFA demonstrates 2.1 cm solid enhancing renal tumor located at upper pole posterior region of right kidney. B. One month follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrates absence of periablation enhancement or residual contrast enhancement within tumor bed indicating technical success.

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