What is kidney tumor ablation?
Kidney tumor ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for kidney cancer. It can be an alternative to surgery for patients with a few, small tumors in certain locations.
Ablation uses heat or ice to destroy tumors. Heating the tumor is done with “microwave ablation” or “radiofrequency ablation.” Freezing the tumor is called “cryoablation.” The dead tumor turns into a scar over time.
How is kidney tumor ablation done?
Kidney tumor ablation is done with a skinny wand and medical imaging (CT, ultrasound). Medicine is given to make you drowsy or to put you to sleep. The clinician puts the wand into the tumor through a pinhole in the skin. The tip of the wand then heats or freezes the tumor. The clinician then removes the wand and puts a small bandage over the pinhole.
Kidney Tumor Ablation
1. The clinician finds the kidney tumor using ultrasound or CT. They put the wand into the tumor through a pinhole in the skin.
2. They turn on the wand to heat or freeze the tumor. This kills the tumor.
3. After removing the wand, the clinician puts a bandage over the pinhole. The tumor turns into a scar over time
What are the risks?
Kidney tumor ablation is generally a safe procedure when done by a specialist.
1 in 10-20 patients will have temporary pain, fever, or minor bleeding. Some patients will notice blood in the urine. This usually stops on its own.
Major complications of ablation are rare. Internal bleeding or nerve injury can occur in 1-5 in 100 people. Infection, skin burns, urine leak, lung collapse, or damage to the intestines can affect 1-2 in 100 people. Death is extremely rare, occurring in up to 1 in 1000 people.
What are the alternatives?
Your treatment options depend on your preferences and unique conditions. These include your overall health as well as the size, location and number of tumors that you have. Sometimes you may benefit from a combination of these treatments.
Alternative 1 No treatment. The disadvantage of this is that the cancer may continue to grow.
Alternative 2 Surgery to cut the tumor out or remove the kidney.
Alternative 3 Medicines to treat the cancer or help the immune system fight the cancer.
Alternative 4 Radiation therapy is less commonly used for kidney cancer unless it has spread. It is a series of treatments to destroy the tumor with radiation beams from the outside.