Clinical experience of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of renal cell carcinoma

Purpose Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for renal tumor could be a useful modality as minimally invasive and palliative therapy. In this study we evaluated their feasibility and safety.Methods Between 2004 and 2011, real-time CT guided radiofrequency ablation was perfomed to ablate a total of 16 tumors in 13 patients. We recorded whether tumors were successfully ablated, major complications and changes of creatinine clearance before and after RFA.Results Overall 11 of 13 (84.6%) were successfully ablated with radiofrequency ablation but 2 had local recurrent tumors. There was no significant change in creatinine clearance between before and after RFA. Two minor complications as pararenal hemorrhage were observed.Conclusion Percutaneous radiofrequency is a feasible and safe modality as a minimally invasive therapy.