Percutaneous cryoablation of stage T1b renal cell carcinoma: technique considerations, safety, and local tumor control.

PURPOSE: To describe the technical methods, safety, and local tumor control rate associated with percutaneous cryoablation of stage T1b renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of a percutaneous renal ablation registry was used to identify 46 patients with a total of 46 biopsy-proven RCC lesions measuring 4.1-7.0 cm treated with cryoablation between 2003 and 2011. The main outcome parameters investigated were adjunctive maneuvers, complications, and local tumor progression, and cancer-specific survival rates. Complication rates were categorized and recorded using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Progression-free and cancer-specific survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean treated RCC size was 4.8 cm (range, 4.1-6.4 cm). Prophylactic tumor embolization was performed in 7 patients (15%), ipsilateral ureteral stents were placed in 7 patients (15%), and hydrodisplacement of bowel was performed in the treatment of 16 tumors (35%). A single technical failure (2.2%) was observed at the time of ablation. Thirty-six tumors (78%) had follow-up imaging at 3 months or later following ablation, including a single recurrence at 9 months after ablation. The mean duration of follow-up for the 35 RCC tumors that did not recur was 2.0 years (range, 0.3-6.1 y). Estimated local progression-free survival rate at 3 years was 96.4%. Of the 46 cryoablation procedures, there were 7 complications (15.2%) of grade II or worse. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that cryoablation represents a valid treatment alternative for select patients with clinical stage T1b RCC. Complications are frequent enough that multidisciplinary patient management should be considered.

Results of Lung Cancer Screening in a Rural Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background In this study, we aimed to determine the performance of the lung cancer screening (LCS) program using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in a rural community. Methodology We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent LCS at a rural healthcare institution from September 1, 2016, through December 31, 2019, to determine the utilization of screening, rate of positivity, rate of cancer detection, and patient compliance. Results A total of 1,474 patients underwent initial LCS, and 1,776 LCS examinations were performed using LDCT. Of 1,776 tests performed, 375 (21.1%) were categorized as positive (Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System III or higher), with 215 of the 375 (57.6%) being lost to follow-up. A total of 29 malignancies were identified (in 1.6% of all LCS tests) during the study period, with 23 (82.8%) malignancies being low-stage malignancies (stage I or II), 24 (79.3%) malignancies potentially surgical candidates (stage IIIA or less), and five (17.2%) malignancies being non-surgical candidates based on stage (stage IIIB or IV). A total of 28.7% of all patients eligible for repeat screening had at least one repeat annual test. Overall, 9.9% of all patients eligible for two repeat annual tests had a second repeat annual test. Conclusions LCS using LDCT is effective in detecting lung cancer in a rural setting. However, compliance with repeat annual screening and recommendations for further workup is low. This may be exacerbated by healthcare and socioeconomic issues prevalent in rural communities. The use of LCS patient coordinators and dedicated tracking software may improve compliance with repeat annual screening and compliance with recommendations when LCS tests are positive.

Tube thoracostomy: a review for the interventional radiologist.

Small-caliber tube thoracostomy is a valuable treatment for various pathologic conditions of the pleural space. Smaller caliber tubes placed under image guidance are becoming increasingly useful in numerous situations, are less painful than larger surgical tubes, and provide more accurate positioning when compared with tubes placed without image guidance. Basic anatomy and physiology of the pleural space, indications, and contraindications of small caliber tube thoracostomy, techniques for image-guided placement, complications and management of tube thoracostomy, and fundamental principles of pleurodesis are discussed in this review.