The advent of real-time, high resolution digital imaging combined with needlehole surgery such as Nanoknife and other exciting new image-guided tumour ablation therapies means that previously dangerous, or inoperable surgery is rapidly becoming a problem of the past.
Tumour ablation expert, Dr Rowland Illing says, "Our new methods allow us to see the tumour, take small samples and to destroy tumours using energy delivered down needles. The name for this form of ‘needlehole’ treatment is ‘ablation’".
Ablation for Kidney (Renal) Tumours should be considered when:
- The position of the tumour would otherwise mean complete kidney removal (radical nephrectomy)
- · The patient is too high risk for surgery
- · Solitary kidney or
- Poor kidney (renal) function
- · Bilateral tumours
- Genetic predisposition to multiple tumours
- · The patient would prefer a minimally invasive procedure
Tumours up to 4cm may be treated, as long as they do not lie immediately next to important structures within the middle of the kidney. The patient is given a general anaesthetic and positioned on the treatment bed. The imaging instrumentation is then guides the treatment needles within the kidney. See Image Guided Treatment of Kidney Cancer
About Tumour Ablation
- Image-guided ablation is a highly specialised procedure that relies on both advanced imaging and energy delivery systems.
- Ablation is generally very well tolerated, with minimal damage to surrounding health tissue.
- It allows the targeted treatment of tumour deposits that may otherwise not be amenable to direct therapy.
- Both primary and metastatic tumours may be targeted.
- For metastatic tumours, ablation may allow for a greater chemotherapy-free period or be aimed at tumours that are no longer sensitive to systemic therapy.
