Simultaneous biopsy and radiofrequency ablation of T1a renal cell carcinoma

The goal of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcome, including feasibility, safety, diagnostic yield, and factors affecting the success of computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided biopsy when performed during the same procedure than radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in renal tumors strongly suspected of being T1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Nineteen patients (13 men, 6 women; mean age, 66.7 years) with a total of 19 suspected renal tumors (mean diameter, 1.8cm) underwent computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided biopsy during (n=6) or immediately after (n=13) RFA. All patients were strongly suspected of having RCC on the basis of patient's medical histories and/or the results of imaging investigations. All procedures were divided into diagnostic and non-diagnostic biopsies. Various variables were compared between the 2 groups using univariate analysis.

In all tumors, biopsy procedures were technically feasible. No major complications were observed, except for 8 minor post-procedural bleedings. All but one tumor was completely ablated. Local recurrence in the ablation zone as well as tumor seeding in retroperitoneal fat occurred in 1 patient 8.5months after the procedure and were successfully treated with further percutaneous cryoablation. Thirteen tumors were diagnosed as RCC, whereas 6 were ultimately found to contain normal renal tissue (n=5) or connective tissue (n=1). Univariate analysis revealed that none of the variables were significantly different between the diagnostic and non-diagnostic biopsies.

The performance of renal tumor biopsy and RFA in the same session is feasible and safe. Although pre-treatment pathological diagnosis would be generally desirable, simultaneous biopsy with RFA can be an option for the patients who are not amenable to pre-treatment biopsy.