Cryoablation

What is Cryoablation?

Cryoablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy cancerous cells. It is a safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors, including breast, lung, kidney, liver, bone, and many other lesions.

How does cryoablation work?

Under ultrasound or CT (computed tomography) imaging a cryoprobe is guided into the tumor. A freezing agent, such as liquid nitrogen (used by the Prosense Cryoablation Syste.) or argon, is circulated within the cryoprobe once it has been inserted, reaching temperatures as low as − 190 °C to create an ice ball around the targeted tissue.

CT scans verify that the ice ball covers the entire tumor as well as a margin of healthy tissue to ensure the area is completely treated. Once this has been accomplished, the cryoprobe is warmed by the cryoablation system (thawed) and safely retracted from the tumor and the patient’s body.

Most procedures involve a freeze-thaw-freeze cycle where the tumor is frozen, thawed and frozen for a set time for optimal tumor destruction. The time to ensure this process varies depending on the size, location, and type of tumor.