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Thermal Ablation for Small Renal Masses

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Abstract

Renal masses are now being detected and properly staged earlier because of advances in imaging. Surgery remains as the gold standard for treatment, with partial nephrectomy as the treatment of choice for small renal masses. A less invasive, nephron-sparing treatment alternative is ablation therapy, especially offered to patients with small renal masses (3 to 4 cm or less), elderly patients, patients with impaired renal function, or patients with co-morbidity, as it entails less anesthetic requirements, lower cost, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and reduced mortality and morbidity. Such ablative techniques include radiofrequency and microwave ablation that can be done through open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, or image-guided percutaneous techniques. Evaluation prior to thermal ablation should include contrast-enhanced CT scan. A biopsy is also done prior to tumor ablation to confirm the diagnosis. Major complications, such as hemorrhage, are infrequent. Patients are followed up regularly with imaging to determine treatment success.

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Aldana, J.P.A., Catibog, J.J.S., Sotalbo, C.P.J., Yabut, J.A.O. (2019). Thermal Ablation for Small Renal Masses. In: Chan, Ey., Matsuda, T. (eds) Endourology Progress. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3465-8_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3465-8_32

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