Renal tumor ablation

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Percutaneous ablation in the kidney is now performed as a standard therapeutic nephron-sparing option in patients who are poor candidates for resection. It can either be a radiofrequency ablation or a cryoablation.

Follow up time frame

Can vary according to center but usually includes contrast-enhanced CT or MR imaging at approximately 3, 6, and 12 months after ablation and at 6–9-month intervals thereafter .

Post operative imaging

In general, ablated region frequently decreases in size over time

CT

Use of intravenous contrast material is often essential for the evaluation of possible residual or recurrent tumor. Ablated regions, (regardless or RF ablation) appear as low-attenuation regions without enhancement.

MRI

Local stranding in the perinephric fat adjacent to the ablation site may be present.

Usual signal relative to renal parenchyma of ablated regions are

T1: iso- to hyperintense
T2: generally hypointense
T1 C+ GAD: post-ablation beds often show a thin rim of peripheral enhancement .