The role of ablative technologies in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma

Ablative treatments (cryoablation or radio frequency ablation) forrenal cell carcinoma aim to decrease morbidity by treating renaltumors in situ, eliminating the need for extirpation.Depending on tumor accessibility as determined by an interventionalradiologist, ablative treatments were performed under percutaneousor laparoscopic guidance.The indications are virtually the same as those for nephron sparingsurgery. The lesions must be less than 4 cm in diameter, peripherallylocated and fulfilling the CT criteria for suspected renal malignancywithout evidence of metastatic disease.The clinical experience shows how renal ablation is a safe, feasibleand reproductible option for minimally invasive nephron sparingsurgery, offering well monitored renal tumor destruction. Althoughthe intermediate term follow-up and literature results are promising,these techniques must still be considered to be under evaluation.Long-term evaluation is mandatory to confirm the proper indicationsfor this surgical procedure.