La crioablazione della prostata per adenocarcinoma

Physiopathological bases of cryosurgical damage are described: hypothermia, freezing, thawing are all disruptive moments causing necrosis. Last-generation cryosurgical apparatus allows the use of liquid nitrogen circulating through thin probes that are inserted percutaneously under u.s. guidance. Also thermosensors are used to monitor the procedure placing them in selected spots. 404 patients were treated in 3 different but homogeneous groups. Results of control biopsies were available at 3 months for 298 (15 pos.) and for 141 at 12 months (13 pos.). Cryoablation appears to be an interesting procedure, but its complexity requires accurate training with a steep “learning curve”; only long-term follow-up will test in the future its real efficacy.