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  • Review Article
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Ablative therapies for small renal tumours

Nature Reviews Urology volume 10, pages 284–291 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Improvements in imaging technology have resulted in an increase in detection of small renal masses (SRMs). Minimally invasive ablation modalities, including cryoablation, radiofrequencey ablation, microwave ablation and irreversible electroporation, are currently being used to treat SRMs in select groups of patients. Cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation have been extensively studied. Presently, cryoablation is gaining popularity because the resulting ice ball can be visualized easily using ultrasonography. Tumour size and location are strong predictors of outcome of radiofrequency ablation. One of the main benefits of microwave ablation is that microwaves can propagate through all types of tissue, including desiccated and charred tissue, as well as water vapour, which might be formed during the ablation. Irreversible electroporation has been shown in animal studies to affect only the cell membrane of undesirable target tissues and to spare adjacent structures; however, clinical studies that depict the efficacy and safety of this treatment modality in humans are still sparse. As more experience is gained in the future, ablation modalities might be utilized in all patients with tumours <4 cm in diameter, rather than just as an alternative treatment for high-risk surgical patients.

Key Points

  • Cryoablation has been extensively studied and is gaining popularity because the resulting ice ball can be easily visualized in real time using ultrasonography

  • Radiofrequency ablation relies almost solely on heat conduction to treat solid tumours and is, therefore, most susceptible to heat sinks owing to blood flow

  • Microwaves propagate through all types of tissue, including desiccated and charred, as well as water vapour, which might be formed during the ablation

  • Irreversible electroporation has been shown in animal studies to affect only the cell membrane of undesirable target tissues and to spare adjacent structures

  • In the future, ablation modalities might be utilized in all patients and not just as an alternative treatment for older patients and those considered unfit for surgery

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  1. Department of Urology, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1400 NW 10th Avenue, Suite 509b, Miami, 33126, FL, USA

    Arturo Castro Jr, Lawrence C. Jenkins, Nelson Salas, Gideon Lorber & Raymond J. Leveillee

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R. J. Leveillee made substantial contribution to the discussion of content and reviewed the manuscript before submission. All other authors researched data for the article, contributed to discussion of content, wrote the article and reviewed the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Raymond J. Leveillee.

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R. J. Leveillee declares grant/research support (inc. clinical trials) from Covidien and Intio and speakers bureau (honoraria) from Cook Urology and Intuitive Surgical. A. Castro Jr declares grant/research support (inc. clinical trials) from Boston Scientific. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Castro, A., Jenkins, L., Salas, N. et al. Ablative therapies for small renal tumours. Nat Rev Urol 10, 284–291 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2013.68

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