CT-guided renal ablation safe alternative to nephrectomy for cancer treatment in obese: Study

USA: CT-guided thermal ablation is a safe and effective treatment for renal cell carcinoma in morbidly obese patients and can be considered as an alternative to nephrectomy, suggests a recent study American Journal of Roentgenology. 

Obesity is a global problem that impacts patient health and morbidity associated with surgical procedures. Thus, morbid obesity patients may not be suitable candidates for curative surgery. Wenhui Zhou, Department of Radiology, Stanford Medicine, Stanford, CA, and colleagues aimed to determine the feasibility, oncologic outcomes, and survival of patients with morbid obesity and renal cell carcinoma treated with thermal ablation.

For the purpose, the researchers performed a retrospective analysis of 107 patients treated with CT-guided renal ablation for clinical T1 renal cell carcinoma between February 2005 and December 2017. 

Patients were stratified into two cohorts on body mass index of ≥ 40 kg/m2 (morbidly obese) and body mass index of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 (normal weight). Anesthetic and radiation dosages, procedure time, residual disease, and local recurrence, and adverse events were analyzed between the two groups. 

"CT-guided thermal ablation remains technically feasible, well-tolerated, and effective in patients with morbid obesity and renal cell carcinoma, with the caveat of increased risk of perinephric hematoma, anesthesia dose, and radiation exposure," wrote the authors. 

The study titled, "Thermal Ablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Patients With Morbid Obesity: Assessment of Technique, Safety, and Oncologic Outcomes," is published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

DOI: https://www.ajronline.org/doi/10.2214/AJR.20.23803