Technique of percutaneous, CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of small renal lesions under conscious sedation

Abstract

RESULTS: From July 2001 to July 2005 we ablated 27 tumors in 23 patients with a mean follow-up of 24 months. The mean patient age was 74 years with a mode ASA score of 3. The mean renal mass size was 2.71 cm. The mean preoperative serum creatinine was 1.34, and the mean postoperative serum creatinine was 1.46, yielding a change which was not statistically different(p 0.46). Follow-up imaging revealed a 70%(16/23)initial success rate and a 17%(4/23)initial failure rate. Two of these failures underwent successful repeat ablation, 1 is on watchful waiting and 1 patient was a true failure. Our only complication was a large perinephric hematoma which resolved spontaneously.