Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Single Port Donor Nephrectomy
Published on: March 12, 2011
Irreversible Electroporation for Surgical Renal Masses in Solitary Kidneys: Short-Term Interventional and Functional
Steffen J Diehl1, Nils Rathmann1, Michael Kostrzewa1
1Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany.
Purpose:
To examine short-term outcomes and complications in patients with a solitary kidney treated with irreversible electroporation (IRE) for a potentially malignant renal mass.
Materials And Methods:
Five patients (2 female, 3 male; mean age, 66 y) with 7 lesions who underwent IRE for renal tumors in a solitary kidney between August 2014 and August 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Changes in signal intensity (SI) of the treated lesion were evaluated on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. To evaluate functional outcome, creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were compared vs baseline after 1 day, 2-7 days, 3-6 weeks, and 6-12 weeks after the intervention.
Results:
Mean tumor diameter was 24.4 mm (range, 15-38 mm), with an average score of 7.7 (range, 4-9) per R.E.N.A.L. criteria (radius, exophytic/endophytic, nearness to collecting system or sinus, anterior/posterior, and location relative to polar lines). There was a progressive, significant decrease in treated tumor SI on follow-up imaging (mean, 70%-82%), suggesting a treatment response rate of 100% at a mean follow-up of 6.4 months (range, 3-11 mo). Two minor acute complications (Society of Interventional Radiology class A) occurred: transient gross hematuria and stage I acute kidney failure. Overall, there was no significant decrease in eGFR (-2.75 mL/min) over 3 months, even though 1 patient's eGFR decreased from > 60 mL/min/1.73m(2) to 44 mL/min/1.73m(2).
Conclusions:
The data suggest that percutaneous IRE for renal mass in patients with a solitary kidney is safe and feasible. It may help to preserve renal function and offers promising short-term oncologic results.
Insights
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a safe and feasible treatment for renal masses in patients with a solitary kidney. This minimally invasive procedure shows promising short-term oncologic outcomes and helps preserve kidney function.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Interventional Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Patients with a solitary kidney face unique challenges when treated for renal masses.
- Preserving renal function is paramount in this patient population.
- Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an emerging minimally invasive treatment option.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the short-term outcomes and complications of percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) for potentially malignant renal masses in patients with a solitary kidney.
- To assess the impact of IRE on renal function.
- To determine the oncologic efficacy of IRE in this specific patient group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of five patients (seven lesions) treated with IRE for renal tumors in a solitary kidney.
- Evaluation of tumor response using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess signal intensity (SI) changes.
- Monitoring of renal function through serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at various time points post-intervention.
Main Results:
- A 100% treatment response rate was observed, indicated by a significant decrease in treated tumor SI (70%-82%) on follow-up imaging at a mean of 6.4 months.
- Two minor acute complications (hemorrhage and acute kidney injury) occurred, classified as Society of Interventional Radiology class A.
- No significant overall decrease in eGFR was noted over three months, suggesting preservation of renal function.
Conclusions:
- Percutaneous IRE is a safe and feasible treatment modality for renal masses in patients with a solitary kidney.
- IRE demonstrates promising short-term oncologic control.
- The procedure appears to effectively preserve overall renal function in this vulnerable patient cohort.
More Related Videos
08:05A Syngeneic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model to Study the Effects of Irreversible Electroporation
Published on: June 8, 2018
05:34A Mouse Model to Evaluate the Long-Term Structural and Functional Outcomes after the Reversal of Prolonged Unilateral Ureteric Obstruction
Published on: July 18, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:25Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
01:30Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis
01:26Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy