Cryoablation

What is cryoablation?

Cryoablation is a procedure that uses extremely cold gas contained in a needle (or needles) to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue. Healthcare providers use cryoablation to treat several conditions, including cancer. The procedure shrinks cancerous tumors by freezing and killing cancer cells. Healthcare providers may call this procedure cryosurgery or percutaneous cryotherapy.

If you have a cancerous tumor, your first question may be, “Is there surgery to remove the tumor?” Often, surgery is the solution. But sometimes, surgery isn’t the best option. In that case, your healthcare provider may recommend cryoablation if they think that procedure is the best way to eliminate a cancerous tumor.

When would a healthcare provider recommend cryoablation?

A provider may recommend cryoablation to treat a cancerous tumor if you have:

• An early-stage or small tumor that a provider can reach without making a large cut (incision) or several small incisions
• A tumor that your provider can’t safely remove with surgery. This might be because the tumor is very large or there’s a chance that surgery could damage nearby organs
• Metastatic cancer (cancer that’s spread to other areas of your body) that affects nearby organs or causes pain. Your provider could use cryotherapy to shrink the cancerous tumor or help with the pain (palliative cryoablation)

What conditions does cryoablation treat?

Cryoablation may be a treatment for:

• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Sarcomas
• Thyroid cancer

How does cryoablation work?

Healthcare providers do cryoablation by inserting a cryoprobe into your body through a small puncture (hole). Cryoprobes are needle-like applicators.

The applicator contains a type of very cold gas. For example, your provider may use liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrous oxide or compressed argon gas.

When your provider touches cancerous tumor tissue with the cryoprobe, the cold gas freezes cells in that tissue. When the tissue thaws, the cancerous cells die so the tumor shrinks or gradually disappears.

How should I prepare?

Your healthcare team will give you specific information on what you should do before your procedure. The details may vary depending on your situation. For example, you may receive general anesthesia. In that case, you may need to fast for several hours before the procedure. But in general, you should:

• Arrange for a ride home after the procedure
• Stop taking certain medications, like aspirin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and blood thinners
• Take certain medications in advance to prevent pain or infection, as instructed by your healthcare provider

What happens during cryoablation?

Your anesthesiologist may give you local anesthesia that numbs the area where you’ll have surgery, or general anesthesia that puts you to sleep. During the procedure, your provider will:

• Make a puncture (hole) in the treatment area
• Insert a cryoprobe filled with very cold gas
• Use the cryoprobe to touch the cancerous tumor for a few seconds or minutes. The intense cold at the tip of the cryoprobe freezes and destroys the tumor
• Use real-time images from an ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan (computed tomography scan) to track the treatment
• Possibly need to touch the tumor with the cryoprobe more than once to destroy enough tissue
• Remove the cryoprobe
• Cover the puncture

How long does cryoablation take?

Cryoablation for cancer treatment may take several hours. The procedure time will depend on your situation. Your healthcare provider will explain how long your procedure may take.

Can providers do laparoscopic surgery to do cryoablation?

Yes, laparoscopic surgery is an option. In laparoscopic cryoablation, a surgeon makes several small cuts in the surgery area so they can use more than one cryoprobe to freeze cancerous cells. They may also use an ultrasound probe. This probe sends images of the inside of the treatment area.

What happens after cryoablation?

If you receive general anesthesia, your care team will take you to a recovery room. They’ll monitor your vital signs as you recover from anesthesia.

Most people go home on the same day as their procedure. In some cases, however, you may need to stay overnight so your healthcare team can check on your recovery from treatment.

What are the benefits of cryoablation?

Cryoablation is treatment for small tumors and in situations where surgery isn’t an option. In general, cryoablation benefits are that the procedure:

• Can be done without an incision
• Causes fewer side effects and scarring
• Does less damage to nearby tissues

How successful is cryoablation?

Healthcare providers use cryoablation to treat many types of cancer and for different reasons. In general, research shows cryoablation is a safe and effective way to treat cancer. If your provider recommends cryoablation, they’ll explain why the procedure is appropriate for your situation and what you can expect.

What are the risks or complications?

Cryoablation is generally very safe. But there are some risks, just as there are in any procedure that involves inserting a tool through your skin. Potential risks include:

• Skin burn
• Complications from anesthesia, like nausea
• Damage to nearby tissues or organs if the cryoprobe touches them
• Infection
• Nerve damage that may cause numbness or weakness

What is the recovery time?

Most people go back to work or resume their usual daily activities within two to seven days after their procedure. But your situation may be different, so be sure to ask your surgeon about any activities you need to avoid while you recover.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Your provider will explain when you should follow up with them. In general, they’ll schedule a checkup appointment a few weeks after your procedure. But contact them if you have infection symptoms like:

• Excessive swelling
• Fever (greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.4 degrees Celsius)
• Pus oozing from the spot where the cryoprobe was placed
• Redness or color changes in your skin near the puncture site

What happens to the tumor after cryoablation?

The tumor will shrink after the tumor ice melts. Over time, your body will get rid of the dead cancer cells — and the cancerous tumor — as part of the usual process of finding and getting rid of damaged or dead cells.