Pamela A. Ticona-Gutiérrez, Diagnóstico por Imágenes, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Valentina Blanco, Diagnóstico por Imágenes, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Matías A. Borensztein, Diagnóstico por Imágenes, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jorge A. Ocantos, Diagnóstico por Imágenes, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cryoablation is a technique used to treat kidney tumors by utilizing low temperatures to achieve tumor destruction. It’s an alternative to partial nephrectomy in select populations. The preoperative evaluation of renal masses by the radiologist allows the surgeon to choose the appropriate treatment. The RENAL and ABLATE scores are tools for categorizing the complexity of the treatment of these tumors. Postoperative follow-up is performed using contrasted computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), at specific intervals, in order to assess the response to treatment and detect early recurrences or complications. Therapeutic success is based on the absence of enhancement in postoperative images and the reduction in tumor size. There are normal post-procedure changes, such as the hypodense safety halo. Contrast enhancement and progressive tumor growth indicate treatment failure or recurrence. Other complications of this treatment include renal tears in the ablated area, fracture of the renal parenchyma, infections, and the appearance of local or distant metastases. In conclusion, the radiologist plays an essential role in the pre- and post-treatment evaluation of kidney tumors treated by cryoablation. The provided recommendations given on this article are fundamental to ensure accurate interpretation of CT and MRI images.
Keywords: Cryoablation. Kidney neoplasms. Catheter ablation. Interventional radiology. Kidney cancer.
