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Thermal ablation: a potential solution for managing the small renal tumor

Nature Clinical Practice Urology volume 2, pages 2–3 (2005)Cite this article

Approximately half of diagnosed renal tumors are smaller than 4 cm.1 It is generally believed that small renal tumors are less likely to metastasize, but there are documented cases of small tumors that have distant metastases.2 Thus, there is a dilemma in the management of small renal tumors. The simplest option of watchful waiting is sometimes advocated. But, as some patients and physicians feel uncomfortable with a strategy of observation alone, several operative options to treat the small renal tumor have evolved over the past two decades.

The traditional therapy of choice was radical nephrectomy, until several groups documented the safety and equivalent efficacy of nephron-sparing techniques such as partial nephrectomy. More recently, thermal ablation has emerged as a possible treatment for small renal tumors that is associated with even lower morbidity and cost. If equivalent efficacy of thermal ablation can be demonstrated, it is likely that these techniques will become the standard treatment for selected small renal tumors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Assistant Professor of Radiology and Urology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore

    Stephen B Solomon

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  1. Stephen B Solomon
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Correspondence to Stephen B Solomon.

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Competing interests

Dr Solomon has previously received honoraria from RITA Medical Systems and Boston Scientific. He currently receives research funding from Endocare, Inc.

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Solomon, S. Thermal ablation: a potential solution for managing the small renal tumor. Nat Rev Urol 2, 2–3 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpuro0059

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