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Microwave ablation of renal tumors: state of the art and development trends

  • Vascular And Interventional Radiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

In the last decades an increased incidence of new renal tumor cases has been for clinically localized, small tumors <2.0 cm. This trend for small, low-stage tumors is the reflection of earlier diagnosis primarily as a result of the widespread and increasing use of non-invasive abdominal imaging modalities such as ultrasound, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Renal tumors are often diagnosed in elderly patients, with medical comorbidities whom the risk of surgical complications may pose a greater risk of death than that due to the tumor itself. In these patients, unsuitable for surgical approach, thermal ablation represents a valid alternative to traditional surgery. Thermal ablation is a less invasive, less morbid treatment option thanks to reduced blood loss, lower incidence of complications during the procedure and a less long convalescence. At present, the most widely used thermal ablative techniques are cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation (MWA). MWA offers many benefits of other ablation techniques and offers several other advantages: higher intratumoral temperatures, larger tumor ablation volumes, faster ablation times, the ability to use multiple applicators simultaneously, optimal heating of cystic masses and tumors close to the vessels and less procedural pain. This review aims to provide the reader with an overview about the state of the art of microwave ablation for renal tumors and to cast a glance on the new development trends of this technique.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interventional Radiology Unit, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Chiara Floridi & Gianpaolo Carrafiello

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Irene De Bernardi, Federico Fontana, Alessandra Muollo, Anna Maria Ierardi & Carlo Fugazzola

  3. Department of Radiology, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy

    Andrea Agostini

  4. Institute of Radiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Paolo Fonio

  5. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Ettore Squillaci

  6. Department of Radiology, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy

    Luca Brunese

Authors
  1. Chiara Floridi
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  2. Irene De Bernardi
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  3. Federico Fontana
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  4. Alessandra Muollo
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  5. Anna Maria Ierardi
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  6. Andrea Agostini
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  7. Paolo Fonio
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  8. Ettore Squillaci
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  9. Luca Brunese
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  10. Carlo Fugazzola
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  11. Gianpaolo Carrafiello
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Correspondence to Chiara Floridi.

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Floridi, C., De Bernardi, I., Fontana, F. et al. Microwave ablation of renal tumors: state of the art and development trends. Radiol med 119, 533–540 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-014-0426-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-014-0426-8

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