Renal Cryoablation

For kidney cancer tumors that have not spread beyond the kidney, renal cryoablation is a possible treatment option. The procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the patient's needs.

The interventional radiologist inserts a long, thin probe directly into the tumor and injects argon gas. The extremely cold gas creates an "ice ball" effectively freezing the tumor. The tumor and the cells in the margins surrounding it are destroyed by repetative cycles of freezing and thawing.