Microwave ablation of oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma appears to be safe and provides durable local control in selected patients, researchers concluded after conducting a small study involving 34 tumors. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) tumors were ablated in 18 participants using percutaneous microwave ablation at the following sites: retroperitoneum (n=12), contralateral kidney (n=6), liver (n=6), lung (n=5), and adrenal gland (n=5). Investigators looked at technical success; local and distant tumor progression; and complications. Among the results:

• Technical success was achieved for all mRCC tumors.
• Durable local control was achieved for 93% of mRCC tumors in 17 patients at a median duration of clinical and imaging follow-up of 1.6 years and 0.8 years, respectively.
• No patients experienced in-hospital or perioperative mortality.
• There were 5 procedure-related complications, including 1 high-grade event.
• 4 patients died from mRCC a median of 1.3 years post-ablation.
• Estimated overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were 86%, 75%, and 75%, respectively.