Minimally Invasive Treatment for 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. 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 Produced for SIR