Editorial comment on: Perioperative morbidity of laparoscopic cryoablation of small renal masses with ultrathin probes: a European multicentre experience.

摘要

The optimal management for patients who are diagnosed with enhancing solid renal masses <4 cm continues to be unknown and the focus of continued investigation. The biologic aggressiveness of individual masses may range from complete benign indolence to those with lethal potential. Although the overall average annual growth rate of these masses is estimated at 0.28 cm per year [1], individuals rates may. vary from stagnant to rapid. Approximately 20% of such masses are not even cancer and, even among the renal cell carcinomas, 32% have limited metastatic capacity (papillary or chromophobe subtypes) [2]. In stark contrast, 5-8% will metastasize and be life threatening [3], As with any issue for which complete characterization is not available at diagnosis and long-term comparative data between treatments are not available, controversy ensues. Consequently, reasonable options for patients with small renal masses include observation, surgical resection, or ablation.