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Deivasigamani et al. Mini-invasive Surg 2023;7:9 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2022.99

Review Open Access

Cryoablation for the management of Small Renal

Masses

Sriram Deivasigamani 1 , Eric S. Adams 1 , Denis Séguier 1,2 , Srinath Kotamarti 1 , Thomas J.
Polascik 1
1
Division of Urology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
2
Department of Urology, Lille University, Lille 59000, France.
Correspondence to: Dr. Sriram Deivasigamani, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, 20
Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Email: sriram.deivasigamani@duke.edu
How to cite this article: Deivasigamani S, Adams ES, Séguier D, Kotamarti S, Polascik TJ. Cryoablation for the management of
Small Renal Masses. Mini-invasive Surg 2023;7:9. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2022.99

Received: 13 Oct 2022 First Decision: 3 Feb 2023 Revised: 14 Mar 2023 Accepted: 16 Mar 2023 Published: 29 Mar 2023
Academic Editors: Richard Naspro, Chi-Fai Ng Copy Editor: Ke-Cui Yang Production Editor: Ke-Cui Yang

Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma is identified most often in the sixth or seventh decade of life, coinciding with the rise in
incidental diagnosis of small renal masses as imaging technology has advanced. However, not all patients in this
older age group are surgical candidates owing to their comorbidities. Cryoablation is a well-established minimally
invasive technique for the treatment of small renal masses. The advent of less invasive ablative treatment has
alleviated the surgical dilemma for certain patients who are contraindicated for extirpative procedures. With the
appropriate patient selection, cryoablation is safe and effective, resulting in comparable local tumor control, fewer
complications, better preservation of renal function, a faster recovery, and a shorter hospital stay. The
percutaneous procedure has increased in popularity due to the advantages of reduced pain, shorter hospitalization,
the ability to be performed without general anesthesia, and decreased cost relative to surgery.
Keywords: Cryoablation, cryosurgery, focal therapy, small renal tumors, renal cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION
Renal masses range in clinical significance from benign tumors to malignancies such as renal cell carcinoma
(RCC). According to trends from the cancer statistics, it is estimated that in 2022 there will be
[1]
approximately 79,000 new cases of RCC diagnosed with an estimated 13,920 expected deaths in the US .

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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