Long-Term Follow-Up Outcomes after Percutaneous US/CT-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation for cT1a-b Renal Masses: Experience from Single High-Volume Referral Center.

Image-guided thermal ablations are increasingly applied in the treatment of renal cancers, under the guidance of ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT). Sometimes, multiple ablations are needed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results in patients with renal mass treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with both US and CT, with a focus on the multiple ablations rate. 149 patients (median age 67 years) underwent RFA from January 2008 to June 2015. Median tumor diameter was 25 mm (IQR 17-32 mm). Median follow-up was 54 months (IQR 44-68). 27 (18.1%) patients received multiple successful ablations, due to incomplete ablation (10 patients), local tumor progression (8 patients), distant tumor progression (4 patients) or multiple tumor foci (5 patients), with a primary and secondary technical efficacy of 100%. Complications occurred in 13 (8.7%) patients (6 grade A, 5 grade C, 2 grade D). 24 patients died during follow-up, all for causes unrelated to renal cancer. In conclusion, thermal ablations with the guidance of US and CT are safe and effective in the treatment of renal tumors in the long-term period, with a low rate of patients requiring multiple treatments over the course of their disease.

Cancers. 2020 May 07*** epublish ***

Giovanni Mauri, Francesco Alessandro Mistretta, Guido Bonomo, Nicola Camisassi, Andrea Conti, Paolo Della Vigna, Matteo Ferro, Stefano Luzzago, Daniele Maiettini, Gennaro Musi, Nicolò Piacentini, Gianluca Maria Varano, Ottavio de Cobelli And Franco Orsi

Division of Interventional Radiology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan 20141, Italy., Department of Urology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan 20141, Italy., Department of Oncology and Hematology-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy.