Percutaneous radio frequency ablation of renal tumors in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease: preliminary results.

PURPOSE: We investigated the preliminary results of percutaneous radio frequency ablation for renal tumors in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Between October 2005 and April 2009 image guided radio frequency ablation was performed to ablate a total of 48 renal tumors in 11 patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. Six of the 11 patients had undergone radical or partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinomas. We recorded whether tumors were successfully ablated, major complications, and changes in serum creatinine and the estimated glomerular filtration rate.

RESULTS

A total of 29 sessions (70 ablations) were done. Of 48 tumors 42 (88%) were successfully ablated at 1 (41) or 3 (1) sessions and 6 (12%) had residual or recurrent lesions. Two residual tumors were treated with nephrectomy, 2 were too small to be ablated and 1 was treated with chemotherapy due to pulmonary metastasis. The remaining residual tumor was completely ablated at 2 sessions but recurred. Overall 8 of 11 patients (73%) were successfully treated with radio frequency ablation but 3 (27%) had residual or recurrent tumors. Two major complications (6.9%) developed at a total of 29 sessions, including arteriovenous fistula and ureteral perforation. Mean serum creatinine increased 11.2% and the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased 9.4% after the last ablation.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous radio frequency ablation may be a treatment option for multifocal renal tumors in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease but preliminary results were not satisfactory due to technical failure.