Percutaneous Ablation for Patients with Small Renal Cancers

The incidence of small renal masses (<4 cm) that were suspicious for clinical-stage T1a kidney cancers rose during the past 3 decades with the increased use of computed tomography and ultrasound imaging. Treatment options include expectant management, partial or radical nephrectomy, and percutaneous ablation (PA) procedures, including thermal ablation.

To better characterize outcomes in patients receiving these treatments, investigators conducted an observational cohort analysis using a SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) cancer registry data linked to Medicare claims. The study population consisted of 4310 patients (age, ≥66 years) with clinical T1a renal cancer (primary tumor, <4 cm) between 2006 and 2011. Management consist…