What Is Ablation Therapy for Kidney Cancer?

Ablation therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that destroys kidney cancer cells without removing the entire tumor through surgery. It is mostly used for small tumors (typically under 3–4 cm or about 1.2–1.6 inches) and in patients who cannot undergo surgery due to age, other health problems, or poor kidney function.

There are two main types of ablation therapy used for kidney cancer:

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

This method uses heat generated by electrical currents to destroy cancer cells. A thin needle is inserted into the tumor through the skin, and high-frequency energy heats and kills the tumor tissue.

Cryoablation

This method uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy the cancer cells. Like RFA, a probe is inserted into the tumor under imaging guidance (usually CT or ultrasound). The freezing process causes the cells to die and break down naturally over time.

Who Is It For?

Ablation therapy may be recommended when:

• The tumor is small and localized
• The patient is not a good candidate for surgery
• Kidney preservation is important
• The patient prefers a less invasive option

Advantages

• Minimally invasive with shorter recovery time
• Done using local anesthesia or sedation
• Usually performed as an outpatient or short hospital stay
• Helps preserve kidney function

Limitations

• Slightly higher risk of tumor recurrence compared to surgery
• Not suitable for larger or complex tumors
• Requires ongoing follow-up imaging to ensure the tumor does not regrow

Ablation is an effective option in well-selected patients and is performed by specialized urologists or interventional radiologists.

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