Cryoablation

Cryoablation

There are many tumor ablation techniques. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been around for the last 16 years and we have used it for bone tumors such as osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma and chondroblastoma and liver, and lung malignancies, with good success. However, RFA uses thermal energy and the exact diameter of ablation always remains a guestimate.

Cryoablation is a new technique where freezing temperatures are used to kill tumor cells by creating ice-balls within the tumors. 

Liquid nitrogen or argon is used depending on the system. With liquid nitrogen, the temperate at the centre of the ice-ball can reach up to minus 196 degrees Celsius with lethal temperatures of minus 20 to minus 40 degrees in the rest of the ice-ball (Fig. 1). More importantly, the ice-ball can be visualized on USG, CT or MRI as the case may be, allowing accurate monitoring of the ablation area (Figs. 2, 3).

The machine is compact and sits in the CT scan room (Fig. 4). The procedure is easily done on an out-patient basis in day-care, mostly under local anesthesia (Fig. 3), some patients needing intravenous sedation if the tumors are inherently painful (Fig. 2).

Indications

  1. Bone tumors including osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma for cure and metastases, for palliation
  2. Soft tissue tumors like fibromatosis (Fig. 2) for cure and palliation
  3. Lung tumors – primary and metastases
  4. Liver tumors – primary and metastases (Fig. 3)
  5. Renal tumors
  6. Breast fibroadenomas
  7. Cryo-immunotherapy – where cryoablation also incites a generalized anti-tumor response.

Contraindications

  1. Large tumor size (typically > 5 cm)
  2. Abnormal coagulation profile

At a glance:

  • Cryoablation is a new ablation technique that uses ice-balls to freeze and kill tumor cells
  • It is now available in India
  • Virtually all indications for RFA are indications for cryoablation, with the advantage of being able to visualize the ablation zone much more accurately.
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Machine 

Prosense Cryoablation System from Israel along with the new Siemens Defination CT Scanner with TwinBeam
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Time taken

15-60 minutes
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Primary Expert Radiologist

Dr. Bhavin Jankharia
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Appointment 

Required
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Report Given

A report of procedure will be give
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Preparation/Instructions

Pre-procedure workup. A consultation session is also necessary and required.

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    Case 53: Cryoablation of Extra-Abdominal Thoracic Wall Fibromatosis

    Case 52: Cryoablation of Liver Metastasis

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