Cryoprobe Placement Using Electromagnetic Navigation System (IMACTIS® CT-Navigation™) for Cryoablation Treatment of Upper Kidney Pole Lesions and Adrenal Metastases: Experience from a Single-Center, 4-Year Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of the IMACTIS® CT-Navigation™-electromagnetic navigation system (EMNS) in cryoablation CT-guided procedures under local anesthesia for the treatment of upper kidney pole and adrenal lesions. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with upper kidney pole lesions and adrenal metastases who underwent cryoablation using the IMACTIS-CT®-EMNS between January 2019 and April 2023. The EMNS was used to guide the placement of the cryoprobes with CT guidance under local anesthesia. The primary outcome was technical success, defined as the successful placement of the cryoprobes in the target lesion. A total of 31 patients were studied, of whom, 25 patients were treated with cryoablation for upper pole kidney masses, and 6 patients underwent the cryoablation of adrenal metastases during the study period. The mean age was 60 years (range, 36–82 years), and 21 patients were male. All the upper kidney pole lesions were renal cell carcinomas, and regarding adrenal metastases, the primary cancer sites were the lungs (n = 3), breast (n = 2), and the colon (n = 1). The median size of the lesions was 3,8 cm (range, 1.5–5 cm). All procedures were technically successful, with the cryoprobes accurately placed in the target lesions under CT guidance using the EMNS, avoiding the penetration of any other organs using an oblique trajectory. No major complications were reported, and local tumor control was achieved in all cases. Our initial experience using the EMNS for cryoprobe placement during CT-guided interventional procedures under local anesthesia for the cryoablation treatment of upper pole kidney lesions and adrenal metastases showed that it is safe and effective.