Email this pageKidney Cancer
Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys – two fist-sized, bean-shaped organs -- located to the left and right of the backbone. Kidney cancer may also be referred to as renal cancer. The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell cancer. While the exact cause of kidney cancer is unknown, there are certain risk factors associated with the disease: smoking, exposure to asbestos, exposure to cadmium, family history, gender (men are twice as likely to develop renal cell cancer as women), high-fat diet, and having another type of kidney dysfunction. Some symptoms of kidney cancer include: blood in the urine, rapid weight loss, low back pain not caused by injury, loss of appetite, fatigue, mass or lump in the belly and recurrent fever not due to other illness.
The good news is that small kidney tumors no longer necessitate the removal of an entire kidney. A new technique called kidney cryoablation can freeze the tumor right where it is. "This type of kidney-saving surgery represents a significant advance in treating kidney tumors. Studies have shown that people with small kidney tumors who are treated with cryoablation have similar long-term survival rates as compared to patients who had the kidney removed completely," says Dr. Orlando, who received his training for this procedure in Pittsburgh from Dr. Jeff Cohen, one of the physicians who helped pioneer the use of cryoablation to treat prostate tumors. Click below to learn more.
Depending on tumor size, the previous treatment for kidney tumors was partial or complete removal of the affected kidney. Cryoablation is preferable to partial or complete kidney removal for patients with only one kidney, for those with small tumors, or for those who would be at increased risk for complications following an invasive kidney removal procedure. Kidney cyroablation can be performed laparoscopically or as traditional open surgery.
If you have kidney cancer, you may be a candidate for kidney cryoablation if you have a small tumor, if you have only one kidney, or if your doctor feels you are at risk for complications following an invasive kidney removal procedure. Ask your physician if kidney cryoablation is right for you.
How long has cryoablation been used on the kidneys?
This technique was pioneered on the kidney about two years ago.
Is kidney cryoablation FDA-approved?
Yes, kidney cryoablation is FDA-approved, and at this time, Guthrie is the only facility in the region to offer this treatment.
How does kidney cryoablation work?
Using ultrasound, Dr. Orlando guides a three-millimeter cryoprobe to the tumor site. Once the tumor is targeted, the probe tip (which contains circulating liquid argon kept at -40° Fahrenheit) is inserted and used to freeze the tumor in a matter of seconds.
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