Cryoablation

Minimally-Invasive, Non-Surgical Treatment

for Kidney Cancer

The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Kidney CancerKidney Cancer

• 52000 new cases per year in the USA

• 75% are incidentally discovered when patients are examined for other reasons.

Because of utilization of Cat scans, Ultrasounds and MRIs by Radiologists

• This Incidental detection results in improved long term survival/cure rate because many

caught early- now70% (40% in 1960’s)

Kidney Cancer in the USKidney Cancer in the US

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

1950 2000 2003 2007

Ne

w c

as

es

pe

r y

ea

r 52000

• Treatment options

– Removal of whole kidney– Removal of tumor and surrounding part of

kidney– Open surgery vs laparoscopic surgery or

ablation

–Percutaneous ablation

Percutaneous CryoablationPercutaneous Cryoablation

1. A thin, needle-like, probe is directed from the skin into the tumor

NO INCISION or SURGERYUnder direct visualization using a CAT scan or

Ultrasound2. The probe freezes the tumor to lethal sub-zero

temperatures3. Probe is thawed and removed4. Under minimal sedation

NO GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Size of Kidney Cancers Treated with Size of Kidney Cancers Treated with CryoablationCryoablation

0

5

10

15

20

25

Num

ber of

pat

ient

s

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Size of cancer (centimeters)

1-year <1-year

0102030405060708090

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Cancer Size (centimeters)

Percent of kidney cancers completely treated(Success rate)

1-year follow up< 1-year follow up

What happens to the Cancer after treatment?What happens to the Cancer after treatment?

0

0.5

11.5

2

2.5

33.5

4

Size

(cm

)

0 3 6 9 12 months

Before After

Minimally-Invasive Cryoablation for Kidney CancerMinimally-Invasive Cryoablation for Kidney Cancer

• Cryoablation can be a curative treatment option for patients with kidney cancer 4 cm or less-success rate is 97%

* Even patients with larger tumors can benefit from this procedure especially those who cannot have general anesthesia or surgery

* Half of patients go home same day, the rest after one night’s stay