Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 13, 2026
Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Oncologic Outcomes of Microwave Ablation of Biopsy-Proven cT1a Renal Cell Carcinomas
Mary Oakley Strasser1, Samuel LaRussa2, Leo Dreyfuss1
1Department of Urology, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.
Purpose:
To evaluate oncologic outcomes for biopsy-proven cT1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with computed tomography (CT)-guided microwave ablation (MWA).
Materials And Methods:
Patients who underwent MWA from 2015 to 2022 for cT1a RCCs were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria included tumors <4 cm (T1a) and a pathologic diagnosis of RCC. Exclusion criteria included non-RCC pathologies, RCCs >4.0 cm, prior ablations, and known RCC syndromes. Postablation surveillance imaging occurred immediately in the procedure suite, at 3 months, and annually thereafter. Outcomes included local tumor progression and primary and secondary treatment effectiveness. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted, including local progression-free survival and all-cause mortality.
Results:
A total of 206 patients met inclusion criteria. Median tumor size was 2.1 cm (interquartile range [IQR], 1.6-2.7 cm) with median follow-up time of 27.0 months (IQR, 14.8-45.3 months). Six patients (2.9%) experienced disease progression after a median of 22.5 months (IQR, 16.3-34.0 months). Primary and secondary treatment effectiveness rates were 94.7% and 97%, respectively. Two patients (1.0%) developed metastases. At 24 months, freedom from local tumor progression, disease progression, and metastasis was 91.5%, cancer-specific survival was 100%, and all-cause mortality rate was 4.9%. The adverse event (AE) rate was 3.3%. Four AEs (1.9%) with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) were Grade III or higher, including 1 case of ipsilateral ureteral obstruction requiring temporary stent placement and 2 perinephric hematomas requiring intervention with angiogram (n = 1, 0.4%) or embolization (n = 1, 0.4%).
Conclusions:
MWA is a safe and effective treatment for patients with cT1a RCCs.
Insights
CT-guided microwave ablation (MWA) is a safe and effective treatment for early-stage renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study shows high efficacy and low progression rates for T1a RCC treated with MWA.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Urologic Oncology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common malignancy.
- Minimally invasive treatments are increasingly utilized for small renal masses.
- CT-guided microwave ablation (MWA) offers a focal treatment option.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the oncologic outcomes of CT-guided microwave ablation (MWA) for biopsy-proven cT1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
- To assess treatment efficacy and safety in a cohort of patients with early-stage RCC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients with cT1a RCC treated with MWA between 2015-2022.
- Inclusion criteria: tumors < 4 cm, pathologically confirmed RCC.
- Outcomes assessed included local tumor progression, treatment efficacy, and adverse events; survival analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- 206 patients with a median follow-up of 27 months were analyzed.
- Local tumor progression occurred in 2.9% of patients.
- Primary and secondary treatment efficacies were 94.7% and 97%, respectively, with a 3.3% adverse event rate.
Conclusions:
- CT-guided MWA is a safe and effective treatment modality for cT1a RCC.
- The procedure demonstrates favorable oncologic outcomes with low progression and metastasis rates.
