Freezing Kidney Tumors Instead of Surgery Destroying kidney tumors by freezing them is safe for patients who aren't candidates for surgery, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The relatively non-invasive technique is called percutaneous cryoablation. Cryoprobes are placed through the skin into the kidney tumor. The tumor is then frozen for about 30 minutes. Researchers say the tumor is completely destroyed in about 95 percent of cases, based on short-term follow-up. Researchers explain, "A relative drawback of surgery is its invasiveness, where a large incision or several smaller incisions are required. Recovery for surgery may be prolonged, on the order of weeks." They add following cryoablation, patients leave the hospital within 24 hours with a few band-aids. However, cryoablation is not meant for tumors that are larger than seven centimeters or lie very close to certain organs. Researchers conclude, "Based on our early experience, percutaneous kidney cryoablation appears to provide an important alternative method of kidney tumor treatment for select patients. Longer term follow-up will be necessary to determine true treatment durability." This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/. SOURCE: The American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, April 30-May 5, 2006 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.