Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Renal Tumors: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the oncological outcomes, complications, and changes in renal function in patients treated with computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for small renal tumors.Materials and MethodsThe charts of patients who underwent RFA from 2006 to 2011 at a single institution were reviewed. Oncological and functional outcomes were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS ver. 18.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA).ResultsA total of 44 RFAs were done in 40 patients. Biopsy prior to RFA was performed in 79.6% of procedures. Of those, 68.6% had renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Mean tumor diameter was 26.2 mm. Grade I complications occurred in 25% of cases (n=11, pain or elevated temperature) and grade II complications in 2.3% (n=1, perirenal bleeding needing two units of blood transfusion). Serum creatinine slightly increased by 0.14 mg/dL at 2 years after RFA (p<0.004). Tumor recurrences were suspected in 8 of 43 cases during follow-up. In five patients, the suspected recurrence was a false-positive as shown by a negative biopsy result or lack of contrast enhancement on subsequent imaging. The verified recurrence rate was 7.7% in all tumors and 2.5% in RCC at a mean follow-up of 2 years. Tumor-free survival was 90% in all patients and 87.5% in those with RCC. Metastasis-free survival was 97.5% and cancer-specific survival was 100%.ConclusionsPercutaneous computed tomography-guided RFA shows promising results at intermediate follow-up. Suspected tumor recurrences are frequently false-positives findings. A longer follow-up is required to verify the durability of these results.