Urology Centers of Alabama since 2002 has consistently been one of the top five robotic centers in the world.
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Urology Centers   >   Conditions & Treatments

Cryosurgery

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Urology Centers of Alabama’s Urologist Dr. Lee Hammontree has many years of experience using a surgical technique, cryosurgery, or the application of extreme cold to kill cancerous tissue in the treatment of kidney cancer. He has performed more cryosurgery procedures than any other surgeon in the southeast.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer which begins small and grows larger over time. This type of kidney cancer grows as a single mass, but tumors may be found in both kidneys at the same time. These tumors in the past were diagnosed only after they had become quite large or symptoms such as blood in the urine or flank pain had developed. Today most of these tumors are found incidentally (during evaluation of unrelated medical problems) by ultrasound, CAT scans, or MRIs.

Cryosurgery for kidney cancer is a kidney-sparing alternative to major surgery. It is applicable for tumors 4 cm in size or less. Cryosurgery offers advantages over other methods of cancer treatment. It is less invasive than tradition surgery, involving only a small incision or insertion of the cyroprobe through the skin. Consequently, pain, bleeding, and other complications of surgery are minimized. Cryosurgery requires shorter recovery time and a shorter hospital stay.

Cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold produced by argon gas to destroy abnormal tissue. This gas is circulated through a hollow instrument called a cryoprobe, which is placed in contact with the tumor. Dr. Hammontree uses ultrasound to guide the probe and monitor the freezing of the cells, thus limiting damage to nearby healthy tissue. A ball of ice forms around the probe, freezing nearby cells. After the cryosurgery, the frozen tissue thaws and overtime forms scar tissue.