Radiofrequency ablation: An option and a dilemma in kidney tumours management
Article published in Urologia Polska 2007/60/4.

authors

Marek Salagierski2, Maciej Salagierski1, Waldemar Różański2, Anna Salagierska-Barwińska3: 1I Klinika Urologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi
2II Klinika Urologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi
3Zakład Radiologii i Diagnostyki Obrazowej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi

The aim of the study.
The aim of this study was to describe our experience with percutaneous ultrasound guided radiofrequency

ablation of kidney tumours.

Material and method.
From July 2002 to August 2008, 103 radiofrequency ablations (RFA) in patients with kidney tumours were

performed. The average tumour size was 35 mm (range, 17-59 mm) with the mean age of 67 years (range, 18-84 years). Most of

the RFA candidates had contraindications to surgery. Needle biopsy was not done on a regular basis and RFA was performed based

on radiographic findings. The average ablation time was between 10 and 15 minutes. The procedure was performed under conscious

sedation with local anaesthesia. Treatment efficacy was assessed by computed tomography. The absence of contrast enhancement

was considered to be a successful treatment.

Results.
The average follow up was 30 months (range, 6-72 months). In 98 tumours (94%) total absence of contrast enhancement

was obtained after the initial RFA and in 5 tumours (6%) after the second ablation session. There were no complications following

99 procedures (96%). In four procedures minor complications were observed. In one patient during the follow up a metastasis to a

homolateral adrenal gland was discovered and one patient died of a pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions.
RFA is a minimally invasive and safe treatment option in kidney tumours management. Despite the promising results

the long-term follow-up is necessary to establish the oncological durability of RFA.