What is percutaneous tumour ablation?
This involves destroying a kidney tumour by heat (radiofrequency, microwave) or by cold (cryoablation), percutaneously under image guidance and without surgery. If needed, a biopsy can be performed before or during the procedure.
Why choose this technique?
- Targeted local treatment of primary or secondary kidney tumours
- Preserves as much healthy kidney tissue as possible, and therefore kidney function
- An alternative to surgery with comparable efficacy for small tumours (≤ 3–4 cm), fewer complications and a shorter hospital stay
- Particularly suitable for frail or elderly patients, those with comorbidities, a single kidney or kidney failure
Who is this method for?
All indications are discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting (urology, oncology, interventional radiology, etc.).
- Single or multiple kidney tumours, usually small (≤ 4 cm)
- Patients not eligible for surgery or wishing for a less invasive alternative
How does it work?
Admission to urology — dedicated pathway:
- Admission in the morning (day 0) to the urology department
- The ablation procedure is performed in the morning or afternoon
- One night in urology with clinical and blood monitoring
- Follow-up CT scan the next morning (day 1) to check the ablation result and the absence of complications
- Discharge home the next day after the CT scan is reviewed
- Follow-up CT scan at 3 months to assess the complete response
Under general anaesthesia
Percutaneous image-guided puncture (CT scan, ultrasound or image fusion)
Protective measures if needed (hydrodissection, carbodissection) to avoid any damage to adjacent organs
Destruction of the tumour using the chosen technique, adapted to its size, location and the patient's history
Post-procedure monitoring
What is the recovery like?
- Moderate pain is possible at the puncture site
- Possible but rare complications: haematoma, temporary blood in the urine, damage to nearby structures
- Radiological follow-up by CT or MRI at 1 and 3 months, then regularly according to oncology guidelines
What to prepare before the consultation
If you are referred by a doctor in our centre, we usually have the necessary information and a pre-treatment consultation will be arranged.
- A recent kidney CT or MRI scan
- A recent blood work-up (kidney function)
- A summary letter from your doctor
📄 Patient information sheet
Patient information sheet
Download our patient information sheet before your appointment.
⚡ At a glance — key figures
Renal cryoablation destroys a kidney tumour using cold (−40 to −150 °C) delivered through fine needles placed through the skin under CT guidance, with no incision. It is an alternative to surgery (nephrectomy) for small renal cancers that preserves the kidney and its function.
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| Cancer control | Local control at 5 years of 85–95% for tumours < 3 cm — comparable to surgery |
| Treatable tumour size | Up to 4 cm (stage T1a), best results below 3 cm |
| Kidney function | Preserved — only the tumour is destroyed, the kidney is kept |
| Scar | None — percutaneous needle approach |
| Hospital stay | Day case or one night, return to normal activity within a few days |
| Particularly suited to | Frail or elderly patients, single kidney, impaired renal function, or patients declining surgery |
| Cost | Covered by French national health insurance at Cochin AP-HP — no out-of-pocket fees |
Sources: EAU (European Association of Urology) guidelines. Data validated by the team of Prof. Anthony Dohan, Department of Interventional Radiology, Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité.
✅ Cost: covered by French National Health Insurance. No additional fees in our centre.
❓ Frequently asked questions
✓ Why this page is trustworthy
Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.