Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Pilot experience with real-time ultrasound guided percutaneous renal mass cryoablation
Mtthew J Bassignani1, Yan Moore, Laurence Watson
1Departments of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
Purpose:
We describe our pilot experience with percutaneous cryoablation of renal masses using real-time sonography.
Materials And Methods:
Three patients presented with 4 renal masses in 4 kidneys, which enhanced with contrast administration by computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging criteria. Renal neoplasm cryoablation was performed using general anesthesia with 17 gauge cryoneedles percutaneously placed into the renal tumor under real-time sonographic guidance. Followup cross-sectional imaging was performed 6 to 7 weeks following cryoablation in all patients.
Results:
No perioperative complications were noted. All patients were discharged home within 24 hours of the procedure and postoperative pain was controlled with oral nonnarcotic medications. Followup cross-sectional imaging indicated that the lesions shrank an average 63% +/- 15% from initial pretreatment volume. Importantly none of the lesions showed contrast enhancement by computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging criteria.
Conclusions:
Our initial experience shows that percutaneous, sonographically guided renal neoplasm cryoablation can be a safe method for treating renal masses.
