Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation of Renal Tumors: 32-month Mean Follow-up Results of 106 Patients

Objective: To report our experience of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on patients with renal tumors. RFA has been increasingly applied in the management of small renal tumors. However, it was performed mostly via percutaneous approach, with limited cases and a short follow-up period.

Methods: From February 2006 to March 2008, laparoscopic RFA was performed on 106 renal tumors (size range: 0.9-5.5 cm) in 106 selected patients (74 men and 32 women, age range: 25-81 years). Initial contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination was performed seven days after the procedure, with subsequent CT assessment at three months, six months, and every six months thereafter. Serum creatinine measurement was conducted along with each time CT examination.

Results: The mean follow-up period was 32 months (range: 12-48). All 106 tumors were biopsied before RFA, of which 90 were diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (84.90%). There was one incomplete ablation. One case with radiographic local recurrence was then proved by pathologic analysis of the nephrectomy specimen to have no cancer cells. The local tumor control rate was 98.1% (104/106). Of the 90 RCC cases, the disease-free survival rate was 97.8% (88/90); both the cancer-specific and the overall survival rate were 100%. No death or renal failure after the procedure has yet been found.

Conclusions: Our results showed that the laparoscopic RFA on small renal mass was safe, with outcomes of patients comparable with those by partial nephrectomy and percutaneous RFA. Further research and a longer follow-up period are needed to confirm our results.