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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Ice ball fractures during percutaneous renal cryoablation: risk factors and potential implications
Grant D Schmit1, Thomas D Atwell, Matthew R Callstrom
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, 200 SW 1st St, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. schmit.grant@mayo.edu
Abstract:
The authors present two cases of ice ball fractures with associated hemorrhage during percutaneous renal cryoablation procedures. Although this is a rare occurrence, it is important to be able to identify ice ball fractures on monitoring noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans during cryoablation, because they can result in significant bleeding, and recognition allows prompt intervention. Risk factors for ice ball fractures and potential implications are discussed.
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