With the developments in imaging techniques and increasing public awareness, small renal masses became more frequent. These tumors were treated with radical nephrectomy conventionally but recently, nephron sparing surgeries are preferred. In the patients who are not eligible for partial nephrectomy and in the diseases which require multiple surgeries like von Hippel Lindau, ablative techniques are considered. These are cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, high intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation. However, only cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation are being used in most clinics because of similar oncologic outcomes with surgeries and low morbidity and mortality rates.
In this article, we aimed to summarize and express recent information and recent series which were published in last 2-3 years, about ablative methods in renal tumors.
Keywords: Renal tumors, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation