Local tumor destruction in renal cell carcinoma—An inpatient population-based study

Oncological outcomes and complication rates after laparoscopic-assisted cryoablation: a European Registry for Renal Cryoablation (EuRECA) multi-institutional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess complication rates and intermediate oncological outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted cryoablation (LCA) in patients with small renal masses (SRMs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of 808 patients treated with LCA for T1a SRMs from 2005 to 2015 at eight European institutions. Complications were analysed according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to estimate 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The median [interquartile (IQR)] age was 67 (58-74) years. The median (IQR) tumour size was 25 (19-30) mm. The transperitoneal approach was used in 77.7% of the patients. The median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days. In all, 514 patients with a biopsy-confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were available for survival analyses. The median (IQR) follow-up for the RCC-cohort was 36 (14-56) months. A total of 32 patients (6.2%) were diagnosed with treatment failure. The 5-/10-year DFS was 90.4%/80.0% and 5-/10-year OS was 83.2%/64.4%, respectively. A total of 134 postoperative complications (16.6%) were reported, with severe complications (grade ≥III) in 26 patients (3.2%). An American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 was associated with an increased risk of overall complications (odds ratio 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.32-6.20; P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

This large series of LCA demonstrates satisfactory long-term oncological outcomes for SRMs. However, although LCA is considered a minimally invasive procedure, risk of complications should be considered when counselling patients.

Cryoablation of small kidney tumors

INTRODUCTION

Cryoablation (CA) has been broadly used mostly in the treatment of small renal masses (SRMs). The present review aims to define the current role of CA in the treatment of SRMs by assessing clinical indications and outcomes.

METHOD

A comprehensive review on patient selection, procedural details, perioperative complications, and short/long-term oncological and functional outcomes was conducted. For each section, a take-home message was formulated with level of evidence (LoE) according to Cochrane collaboration.

RESULTS

Age and comorbidity drive the choice of ablation in SRMs, although hospital setting also influences the decision. Technically in adequate CA or first post-CA control occurs in 3-5% of laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA) or percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) series. Meta-analysis does not evidence differences in the rate of residual tumor per person-year between the approaches (0.033 LCA vs. 0.046 PCA, p = 0.25). Perioperative complications (8-25%) are erratically reported. LCA has significantly lower likelihood of complications than minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN). Systematic reviews indicate 30-month local tumor progression rate of 8.5% for LCA in renal cell carcinoma but low metastatic progression (1-4.4%). Few LCA long-term follow-up series (mean/media 48-98 months) report recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) ranges of 80-100%. For PCA, Kaplan-Meier local disease-free survival (DFS) of 95.6% at 3-5 years [32] and 5-year overall survival and local RFS of 86.3% were reported. The decrease in renal function after CA is minimal, and the only risk factor associated is the basal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

CONCLUSION

LoE 3a/b confirms lower CA perioperative complication rate and higher local progression rate than those for MIPN. CA preserves postoperative renal functional, without any evidence of differences in mid-/long-term follow-up compared to nephron sparing surgery.

Comparison of Postoperative Complications and Mortality Between Laparoscopic and Percutaneous Local Tumor Ablation for T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Population-based Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate potential differences in local tumor ablation (LTA) perioperative outcomes between the percutaneous LTA (pLTA) and the laparoscopic LTA (lapLTA) approaches.

METHODS

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare, we identified all patients diagnosed with T1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who underwent either pLTA or lapLTA between 2000 and 2009. Overall complications at 30 days and mortality at 90 days were examined for both groups. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to evaluate the effect of the approach on perioperative complications. A second model was fitted to test for associations between patient or tumor characteristics and type of LTA approach.

RESULTS

Overall, 516 patients diagnosed with T1a RCC were identified. Of those, 289 (56%) were treated with pLTA and 227 (44%) were treated with lapLTA. LapLTA-treated patients were younger (median 76 vs 78, P < .001) and healthier (median Charlson comorbidity index 2.1 vs 2.7, P = .03) than their counterpart. After pLTA and lapLTA, overall complication rates were 21% and 25%, respectively (P = .3). Similarly, 90-day mortality rates did not differ between the two groups (P = 1). After adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics, LTA approach was not associated with perioperative complications (odds ratio: 1.38, P = .1). However, older and sicker patients were less likely to be treated with lapLTA (both ≤ 0.04).

CONCLUSION

No differences in 30-day overall complications or 90-day mortality rates were detected between lapLTA and pLTA for T1a RCC. pLTA was more frequently used in older and sicker individuals. Further prospective studies comparing both procedures should be undertaken.