Cryotherapy for renal tumors: Current status and contemporary developments

Abstract

The proportion of renal tumors found incidentally dramatically increased in the past decade. More than half of them were diagnosed in patients over 70 years of age, a population with high associated comorbidity. Nephron-sparing minimally invasive surgical procedures are aimed at treating patients with small renal tumors and multiple comorbidities. Cryotherapy stands out among all other ablative procedures because of its better mid-term oncological outcome. A non-systematic review of the literature on cryotherapy as a treatment for renal tumors was made, analyzing its indications, actual and future application techniques, results, and complications. (C) 2009 AEU. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.