To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: DG DISPATCH - RSNA: Cryoablation Highly Effective For Renal Cell Carcinoma URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1ECBBE.htm Doctor's Guide December 1, 2000
By W. A. Thomasson, PhD Special to DG News
CHICAGO, IL -- December 1, 2000 -- Cryoablation, a procedure readily visualized in real time under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is highly effective for destroying renal cell carcinomas. The procedure also preserves renal function and has few complications.
P. E. Sewell, Jr., MD, of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson) presented these findings yesterday (Nov. 30) at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Sewell's report covered 36 patients with 38 exfoliative, parenchymal, hilar or mixed tumors that were less than 12 cm in diameter. Thirty-four patients were treated under general anesthesia, primarily to improve imaging and to minimize position-associated discomfort.
Between one and four cryoprobes were placed and used to produce three freeze-thaw cycles with a target temperature of -4 degrees Celsius for all visible tumor. Since frozen water is highly visible on MRI, with a clear boundary between frozen and unfrozen areas, the operator can easily follow growth of the freeze zone and verify that it covers the entire tumor.
Thirty-one of the 36 patients were found to be apparently tumor-free after a single treatment. The remaining five patients were retreated successfully. Furthermore, there have been no initial treatment failures since Dr. Sewell and his colleague, W. B. Shingleton, MD, switched to a different type of probe.
Creatine levels did not change from those measured preoperatively, except in one patient who had a stable improvement. The only complications have been four cases of gross hematuria, all of which resolved spontaneously, and one wound abscess. There have been no fistulae or instances of damage to the collecting system.
These are very exciting results, Dr. Sewell said, raising the possibility that physicians may be able to offer patients who are not surgical candidates the same opportunity for cure as is available to those who undergo surgery. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.