[Us-guided percutaneous radio frequency in kidney cancer: our experience.]

The radio frequency ablation of kidney cancer showed satisfactory results at a short follow-up with the use of a new RF generator system. Radio frequency is an alternative procedure with the intention of producing heat damage to tissue by electromagnetic energy. Methods. From January 2009 to July 2010, at our operative unit, ten patients (age range: 50-83 years) underwent percutaneous radio frequency. All tumors were primitive without secondarism. The lesion diameter ranged from 15 to 35 mm. Only in two cases the treatment was open due to difficulties in finding the lesion. Results. At six months' treatment, two patients had a complete remission and one patient an incomplete one; at eight months, five patients are with a complete remission and one patient with complete remission; at twelve months, one patient showed an incomplete remission. Conclusions. There are no studies with a long-term follow-up and it is prudent to limit this therapy to those patients who can not undergo surgical treatment. A correct post-operative imaging evaluation is essential to ensure an effective treatment.

PMID: 21786239