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Invasive interventional radiology treatment proves as effective as surgery but without the side effects of sexual and urinary dysfunction. See video from the Society of Interventional Radiology at: http://inr.mediaseed.tv/SIR_36322/

PROSTATE CANCER

A minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment -- focal cryoablation that freezes prostate tumors -- proves as effective as surgery but without the side effects of sexual and urinary dysfunction. The so-called "male lumpectomy" can be considered a first-line treatment for patients of all risk levels. Instead of removing the entire prostate or using radiation on the entire prostate, interventional radiologists can find out where the cancer is and just destroy the cancer.

Interventional radiologists, using imaging for guidance, insert a probe through the skin that circulates extremely cold gas to freeze and destroy the cancerous tissue. Treating only the tumor instead of the whole prostate gland is a major and profound departure from the current thinking about prostate cancer.

Additionally, the use of a 3-D mapping biopsy provides superior information on the extent and grade of prostate cancer as opposed to the current standard TRUS biopsy.

KIDNEY CANCER

Freezing kidney tumors, using a safe minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment that kills the cancer 100 percent effectively without surgery, should be the first treatment option for all individuals with tumors that are 4 centimeters or smaller, and this treatment is a viable option for people with larger tumors. Interventional cryoablation is as effective as laparoscopic surgery, the current gold standard treatment. Eliminating cancer at such an early stage is significant news for kidney cancer patients. Interventional cryoablation is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Patients leave the hospital with only a bandaid and return to normal activity almost immediately vs. the current common treatment of laparoscopic surgery with several days in the hospital and two to four weeks of recovery.

ABOUT INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments that offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to surgery.

News about the success of interventional cryoablation was released at the Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego.

To find an interventional radiologist near you visit: www.SIRweb.org.

To reach the Society of Interventional Radiology: 703-691-1805

To reach SIR's Communications Department: 703-460-5572

Registered journalists can access video, audio, text, graphics and photos for free and unrestricted use at http://www.mediaseed.tv.

Source: Society of Interventional Radiology