Tumour ablation for kidney cancer
What is tumour ablation?
Tumour ablation means destroying the tumour (cancer). It is sometimes used to treat kidney cancers smaller than 3 to 4cm.
You may have this treatment if:
- you have a small tumour and are not well enough for surgery
- you choose not to have surgery
- it is important to try to keep the affected kidney, or you have only 1 kidney
- you have a type of kidney cancer that causes lots of tumours and was passed down from a parent (inherited)
- cancer is affecting both kidneys.
Tumour ablation generally causes fewer side effects and has a quicker recovery time than surgery for kidney cancer. With both surgery and tumour ablation there is a small risk that not all the cancer is removed. This risk is a little higher for tumour ablation. If tumour ablation is an option for you, then your cancer doctor will talk to you about:
- the risks of tumour ablation
- the benefits of avoiding surgery
- the benefits of keeping the kidney.
Types of tumour ablation for kidney cancer
There are different types of tumour ablation. The 2 most common treatments are:
- cryotherapy – this uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the tumour
- radiofrequency ablation (RFA) – this uses an electric current to produce high temperatures to destroy the tumour.
Other types of tumour ablation may be used in clinical trials. These include:
- microwave ablation
- laser ablation
- high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will talk to you about which of these methods may be right for you.
You should have a guided biopsy to collect a tissue sample. This is to give your doctor more information about the cancer. It may be done before tumour ablation, or your doctor may decide to take a sample during treatment.
Related pages
Having tumour ablation for kidney cancer
Usually, a specialist x-ray doctor will do tumour ablation. They are called a radiologist. You will either be given a sedative to help you relax, or a general anaesthetic.
You may have a catheter put in to drain urine (pee) from your bladder. This is usually removed soon after the procedure.
The doctor uses a local anaesthetic to numb the area around the kidney. Then you have an ultrasound or CT scan. These scans guide the doctor to the right area of the kidney. The scans also help them monitor what is happening during your treatment.
When the doctor sees the tumour on the monitor, they place 1 or more fine probes through the skin (percutaneously) into the tumour.
The probes freeze or heat the tumour. The extreme temperature destroys the cancer cells. The doctor will also aim to destroy a small area (about 1cm) of healthy tissue around the tumour. This is to try to make sure no cancer cells are left behind to grow back again.
Keyhole surgery
Sometimes tumour ablation is done using keyhole surgery. You have a general anaesthetic for keyhole surgery.
The surgeon makes a few small cuts in your tummy (abdomen) and passes a laparoscope through 1 of the cuts to see the tumour. A laparoscope is a thin tube with a light and a camera on the end. It sends video images to a monitor. The surgeon inflates your tummy with gas so that it is easier to see and work with the laparoscope.
Side effects of tumour ablation for kidney cancer
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Pain
You will probably have some pain or discomfort where you had the treatment. Your doctor will give you painkillers to take regularly for a few days.
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Bloating
If you had gas in your tummy for the laparoscope, you may feel bloated and have some discomfort in your shoulders. This improves over a few days as your body absorbs the gas.
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Feeling sick
Sometimes people feel sick immediately after tumour ablation. If this happens, tell your nurse or doctor. They can give you anti‑sickness drugs.
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Raised temperature
You may feel a little unwell for the first few days and have a slightly raised temperature. You will probably also feel tired. Drinking plenty of fluids will help. If your temperature does not return to normal, or if it goes above 38°C (100.4°F), contact your doctor. This may be caused by an infection.
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Blood in your urine
You may notice some blood in your urine (pee). This should go away after a few days.
You usually need to stay in a hospital bed for 4 to 6 hours after the treatment.
Possible complications after tumour ablation
The risk of complications after tumour ablation is low.
Possible complications include:
- infection – you may be given antibiotics to reduce the risk of this happening
- bleeding – you will be monitored during treatment and for a few hours afterwards
- a narrowing of the ureter – this can affect how urine drains from the kidney.
You will have a scan after treatment to check for any complications. These can be treated straight away if needed.
Going home after tumour ablation
After tumour ablation, you may go home on the same day or the day after treatment. This depends on how quickly you recover.
Your surgeon or nurse can tell you when you can start doing everyday activities again.
Before you leave hospital, you will be given an appointment for a check-up. This will be at an outpatient clinic. Your doctor or nurse may arrange for you to have a CT scan to see the result of the treatment.
You will have regular follow-up scans to check the kidney for any signs of the cancer growing back.
Related pages
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our kidney cancer information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Ljunberg B, Albiges L, Bedke J et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on renal cell carcinoma. 2023. Available from https://uroweb.org/guidelines/renal-cell-carcinoma
Powles T, Albiges L, Bex A, et al. Renal cell carcinoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2024 May 22. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2024.05.537
Dr Lisa Pickering
Reviewer
Consultant Medical Oncologist in Renal and Skin Cancers
Date reviewed
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