The Current Status of Renal Cryoablation for Treatment of Small Renal Masses

Recent advances in imaging technology have led to increased detection of Small Renal Masses (SRMs). Nephron-Sparing Surgery (NSS) is considered the gold-standard treatment for most SRMs, but renal cryoablation is recommended in certain comorbid populations. The current literature indicates cryoablation offers similar long-term outcomes and decreased perioperative complication rates compared to NSS despite increased incidences of local disease recurrence. Additional research on long-term measures of treatment success such as Cancer-Specific Survival (CSS) and Metastatic Recurrence-Free Survival (MRFS) is necessary to provide a more accurate assessment of cryoablation effectiveness relative to the alternative treatment options. Future treatment guidelines will likely expand the indications for renal cryoablation as more data emerges regarding its oncologic efficacy, surgeons become more familiar with procedural technique, and technology continues to improve.