Guidelines also recommend the use of imaging surveillance with chest radiography or CT annually for up to 5 years after ablation of RCC [2,9,11]. Imaging-guided biopsy of renal masses is encouraged in patients considering ablative therapies [2,9,11,60]. Pretreatment biopsy can help confirm the malignant nature and aggressiveness of the tumors, which in turn can influence the frequency and duration of follow-up. After treatment, biopsy is also indicated for masses that fail to regress or that display findings suggestive of recurrence. Radiography Chest Chest radiography is a low-yield diagnostic tool for detecting pulmonary metastasis in patients treated for RCC, particularly in those with low-risk tumors, irrespective of the treatment modality (RN, PN, or ablation) [27,28]. In a retrospective analysis of 258 patients who had undergone resection or ablation of low-risk (T1a) RCC, pulmonary metastases developed in 3 patients (1.2%), but in only 1 patient (0.4%) was this metastasis diagnosed by surveillance chest radiographs [27]. However, according to guidelines from urologic and oncologic societies, chest radiography Post-treatment Follow-up of Renal Cell Carcinoma is the recommended technique for surveillance of patients after ablation of T1a tumors [2,9,11]. This is in part because of concerns about potential false-positive findings with chest CT (ie, intrapulmonary lymph nodes and granulomas) that can lead to further unnecessary and potentially invasive investigations [9,12]. Radiography Abdomen There is no relevant literature regarding the use of abdominal radiographs in the follow-up of patients after localized RCC ablation, and this method is not recommended by the guidelines [2,9,11]. Radiography Skeletal Survey There is no relevant literature regarding the use of a radiographic survey of the whole body in the follow-up of patients after localized RCC ablation, and this method is not recommended by the guidelines [2,9,11].
Post Treatment Follow up and Active Surveillance of Renal Cell Carcinoma. Guidelines also recommend the use of imaging surveillance with chest radiography or CT annually for up to 5 years after ablation of RCC [2,9,11]. Imaging-guided biopsy of renal masses is encouraged in patients considering ablative therapies [2,9,11,60]. Pretreatment biopsy can help confirm the malignant nature and aggressiveness of the tumors, which in turn can influence the frequency and duration of follow-up. After treatment, biopsy is also indicated for masses that fail to regress or that display findings suggestive of recurrence. Radiography Chest Chest radiography is a low-yield diagnostic tool for detecting pulmonary metastasis in patients treated for RCC, particularly in those with low-risk tumors, irrespective of the treatment modality (RN, PN, or ablation) [27,28]. In a retrospective analysis of 258 patients who had undergone resection or ablation of low-risk (T1a) RCC, pulmonary metastases developed in 3 patients (1.2%), but in only 1 patient (0.4%) was this metastasis diagnosed by surveillance chest radiographs [27]. However, according to guidelines from urologic and oncologic societies, chest radiography Post-treatment Follow-up of Renal Cell Carcinoma is the recommended technique for surveillance of patients after ablation of T1a tumors [2,9,11]. This is in part because of concerns about potential false-positive findings with chest CT (ie, intrapulmonary lymph nodes and granulomas) that can lead to further unnecessary and potentially invasive investigations [9,12]. Radiography Abdomen There is no relevant literature regarding the use of abdominal radiographs in the follow-up of patients after localized RCC ablation, and this method is not recommended by the guidelines [2,9,11]. Radiography Skeletal Survey There is no relevant literature regarding the use of a radiographic survey of the whole body in the follow-up of patients after localized RCC ablation, and this method is not recommended by the guidelines [2,9,11].