The objective of the study was to elucidate thermal based ablation techniques for local tumor control. Seven lesions of renal cell carcinoma (2 renal, 1 adrenal, 2 muscle, 1 hepatic, 1 bone) were treated under local (n=2) or general (n=6) anaesthesia with percutaneous cryoablation (CRA): CryoHit® device or radiofrequency (RF) ablation (RFA): RF 3000™). Treatment was palliative in 4 patients with progression after systemic therapies, and with curative intention in one organ confined tumor (patient with active HCV and HIV infection). Mean power for RFA was 165 watts. Duration of treatments was 10-91 min. No bleeding or urinary leakage was observed; no drainage or indwelling catheters necessary. Pain relief was sufficiently achieved by tramadol and novaminesulfon. Inpatient period on average was 4.25 days. CRA led to complete tumor destruction (CTD) of an adrenal mass (time to progression, 15+ months) and partial tumor destruction (PTD) of a lumbar lesion (19 months); RFA resulted in CTD of 3 lesions (liver, 9+ months; kidney, 1+, 13+ months) and PTD in 2 lesions (muscle and bone, 3 months). In conclusion, it was found that CRA and RFA are safe and effective methods to destroy metastatic RCC. Such minimal invasive techniques are favorable for palliative treatment (low performance status, surgical preconditions) and in conjunction with immunochemotherapy; A decreased risk of bleeding, the shorter duration of hospitalization and a faster recovery of the patient encourage minimal invasive percutaneous thermal based therapies due to life-quality and economic aspects. Treatment of primary renal cell carcinoma is currently under investigation.

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