Percutaneous cryoablation for stage T1b renal cell carcinoma in a patient with horseshoe kidney

Abstract

We report the first case of percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) for stage T1b renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a horseshoe kidney (HK). A 76-year-old man with an HK underwent computed tomography-guided PCA for RCC measuring 42 mm (stage T1b) in diameter. Although transcatheter embolization before the PCA and hydrodissection were required to avoid complication and incomplete ablation, PCA was successfully performed without complication. The complete ablation was confirmed on computed tomography images 1 month after the procedure. There was no recurrence or metastasis during 2 years of follow-up. We believe this is the first report of PCA for stage T1b RCC in a patient with HK. This technique can be performed without regard to tumor size and location and may be considered as a treatment option to avoid complex surgery.

Renal cell carcinoma of horseshoe kidney

“…The structure of the isthmus and the malformations of the blood vessels that supply it, have big influence on the choice of surgical method [12,13]. In certain cases, preoperative super selective embolization of pathological blood vessels of the tumor can be performed, which enables more efficient and safer surgical treatment [14].…”