A Closer Look at Radiation Exposure During Percutaneous Cryoablation for T1 Renal Tumors

Introduction: Percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) can be a valid alternative to partial nephrectomy for patients with cT1a renal tumors. A potential disadvantage of PCA is radiation exposure for patients, though the exact significance of this is unknown. This study aims to uncover the degree of radiation exposure during PCA and what factors are of influence. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent CT-guided PCA for cT1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) between January 2014 and September 2024. The median effective dose (mSV) of PCA was calculated and compared to the expected cumulative radiation exposure during follow-up. Multivariate linear regression was performed to identify factors predictive of higher radiation exposure (mSV). Results: A total of 164 PCAs were performed, with radiation data available for 133 cases. Mean age was 65 (±11) years and the mean tumor diameter was 28 (±9.6) mm. Median effective dose of the CA procedures was 26 mSV (IQR 18-37). The estimated cumulative effective dose of follow-up CT scans according to 2016 and 2024 European Association of Urology guidelines was 158 (IQR 117-213) and 105 mSV (IQR 78-142), respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified BMI (OR 1.723, p < 0.001), the number of needles used (OR 4.060, p < 0.001), and the necessity for additional procedures (OR 8.056, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of a higher effective dose. Conclusions: We found a median effective dose of 26 mSV for PCA, which is relatively low compared to the cumulative radiation exposure associated with CT scans during follow-up of patients post-ablation according to the guidelines. Furthermore, increased BMI, a higher number of required needles and the execution of additional procedures are all associated with a higher effective dose.