Kidney Masses & Cancer
RFA vs. cryoablation: which is better?
What is the short answer?
Both treat small kidney tumors without removing the kidney.
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat, and cryoablation uses extreme cold.
What else should I know?
Both are done with needles guided by imaging, usually as an outpatient.
Neither is always better.
Tumor size, location, and nearby structures guide the choice.
When should I make an appointment?
If you have a small kidney mass, ask whether ablation is an option for you.
Where will I be seen?
For Loganville, our Snellville Clinic & Surgery Center, 1557 Janmar Rd, Snellville, GA 30078, brings your visits and any procedure together in one building.
How do our urologists approach this?
Our urologists choose between heat and cold based on your tumor, not a general preference. Its size, where it sits in the kidney and what’s nearby all matter. We also consider a biopsy, your kidney function and your other health conditions. If ablation isn’t a good match, we’ll discuss monitoring with scans or a partial or complete removal of the kidney.
What happens at a visit?
Please bring your imaging and kidney function results. We’ll show you where the tumor is, explain how the procedure is guided, and go over the follow-up scans that check the treated area.
How should I prepare?
Ask the imaging center for your scan images on disc or through a portal, and bring your latest kidney function blood work. Bring your medicine list too, especially blood thinners. Writing your questions down ahead of time helps you get the most from the visit. A family member is welcome too, and a second set of ears often helps.
When should I call?
Call us if you see blood in your urine, have new side pain, or need help scheduling a follow-up scan.
What do patients often ask?
These are the questions we hear most, each with a short answer.
Is either one surgery?
Neither removes the kidney. Both are done with needles guided by imaging, usually as an outpatient.
Will I need scans afterward?
Yes. Regular scans check the treated area over time.
Is there a video on this?
Dr. A. Dev Mally, who sees patients at our Snellville clinic, talks about kidney cancer in this video.
- Watch: Dr. Mally on Kidney Cancer What the video covers: Dr. Mally talks about kidney cancer.
What should I read next?
Background information, not a substitute for being seen. Loganville articles