WEDNESDAY, June 29, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- A minimally invasive technique that uses a heated needle to destroy malignancy is proving an effective, long-lasting treatment against kidney cancer in certain patients, researchers report.
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat created by electrical energy to destroy tumor tissue. The treatment is delivered through a thin needle that's guided to the target using CT scan, ultrasound or other imaging techniques.
Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston reviewed data on 16 patients with a total of 20 tumors who were treated with the new technique.
They report that within four years of treatment, five of the patients died from causes unrelated to kidney cancer. None of the remaining 11 patients experienced tumor recurrence or metastasis of the kidney tumor during the four to six years following their radiofrequency ablation therapy. The findings are published in the July issue of the Journal of Urology.
"This study shows, for the first time, that this is a very effective long-term treatment," study author Dr. W. Scott McDougal, chief of urology, said in a prepared statement.
"Right now, older patients with small lesions in limited areas of their kidneys are good candidates for this procedure. We need to wait for 10-year follow-up information to determine whether it will be appropriate for patients with a longer life expectancy," McDougal said.
More information
The American Medical Association has more about kidney cancer.
