Renal Cell Carcinoma Ablation: Preprocedural, Intraprocedural, and Postprocedural Imaging.
Winston B Joe1, Jessica G Zarzour1, Andrew J Gunn1
1University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Ala (W.B.J.); and Divisions of Abdominal Imaging (J.G.Z.) and Vascular and Interventional Radiology (A.J.G.), Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35249.
Radiology. Imaging Cancer
|March 29, 2021
Summary
Thermal ablation is a safe and effective treatment for localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with comorbidities. Understanding key imaging findings is crucial for successful percutaneous kidney tumor ablation.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Interventional Radiology
- Urology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence is increasing, necessitating alternative treatments for patients unsuitable for surgery.
- Thermal ablation is a viable option for localized tumors (≤4.0 cm), particularly in patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Minimally invasive techniques like ablation require a thorough understanding of imaging findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinically relevant radiologic findings in image-guided renal ablation for RCC.
- To guide interventionalists in assessing risks, challenges, and success likelihood of RCC ablation.
- To cover preprocedural, intraprocedural, and postprocedural imaging considerations.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical experience.
- Focus on imaging findings relevant to percutaneous ablation of renal tumors.
- Discussion of pre-, intra-, and post-ablation imaging.
Main Results:
- Ablation is effective and safe for localized RCC in patients with comorbidities.
- Specific imaging findings are critical for guiding the ablation procedure.
- Understanding these findings improves risk assessment and predicts treatment success.
Conclusions:
- Image-guided thermal ablation is an established treatment for localized RCC.
- Radiologic assessment is vital throughout the ablation process for optimal outcomes.
- This review highlights key imaging insights for interventional radiologists and urologists.
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