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Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Ultrasound-guided cryoablation for breast cancer ineligible for or refused surgery: a single-center experience
1Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Breast Center, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Aim:
To evaluate the safety and feasibility of ultrasound-guided cryoablation for breast cancer in patients ineligible for or who refused surgery.
Materials And Methods:
In this retrospective study, women with breast cancer who were ineligible for or refused surgery underwent ultrasound-guided cryoablation and adjuvant therapy, as appropriate, from April 2020 to April 2023 and were included. The primary evaluation criterion was tumor progression assessed by mRECIST on both contrast-enhanced ultrasound and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Pain assessment using visual analog scale, complications, and cosmetic satisfaction were also evaluated.
Results:
Seventeen patients receiving successful cryoablation were included in the study, and 16 received adjuvant endocrine therapy. The mean age was 70 ± 9 years. The median tumor diameter was 1.79 cm (interquartile range, 0.91-3.30 cm). During a mean follow-up period of 27.8 months (range, 12-36 months), the complete response rate was 100 %. Mild pain was indicated in 17.6 % (3/17) of patients using the visual analog scale. No severe procedure-related complications were reported, and cosmetic satisfaction reached 100 %.
Conclusion:
According to the results of the current study, ultrasound-guided cryoablation for breast cancer is a safe and feasible treatment in women who are ineligible for or refuse surgery.

