Other treatments can sometimes be used to treat small tumors (smaller than 3 cm) instead of treating them with standard surgical techniques.

These treatments are performed through the skin (percutaneous) and seek to cause fewer side effects than an open kidney operation. These procedures also have faster recovery times. These include:

- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

- Cryotherapy

- High-intensity focused ultrasound

- Embolization

These procedures can be appropriate for patients with small kidney tumors (stage 1) in which standard surgery is not indicated.

  • RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION (RFA)

Heat is used to destroy cancer cells. This may have to be performed more than once. This is done in the radiology department or using minimally invasive surgery.

You may receive a drug to help you relax or a local anesthetic to put the are of your kidney to sleep. Using images produced by an ultrasound or CT scanner the area of the kidney needing treatment can be seen.

The side effects of RFA can include pain in the area of the kidneys, bleeding, or infection. In a small number of people RFA can cause an obstruction in the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder (ureter). It may also cause damage to the intestines.

  • CRYOTHERAPY

Cryotherapy uses very cold temperatures to destroy the cancer. It is usually carried out while the patient is under general anesthesia.

Probes placed in the middle of the tumor administer a substances hat freezes and destroys the cancer cells and a small area of healthy tissue located nearby (measuring approximately 1 cm).

The side effects can include pain in the area of the kidneys, bleeding, or infection. In a small number of people the treatment can cause an obstruction in the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder (ureter). It may also cause damage to the intestines.

  • High-intensity focused ultrasound

This treatment is more novel. It uses focused high-energy, high-frequency sound waves to produce high temperatures in the inside of tumor cells, destroying the cells. It is used less often to treat kidney cancer than the previously mentioned procedures.

It can be done under local or general anesthesia. The side effects can include pain in the area of the kidneys, bleeding, or infection. This may have to be performed more than once.

  • EMOLIZATION

If surgery to remove the kidney isn't possible due to your overall state of health or because the tumor is too large, it may be possible to block the supply of blood to the tumor. This is called embolization. It can help control symptoms such as bleeding.

A catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in the groin until it reaches the artery that supplies the kidney with blood; x-ray images are used as a guide when placing the catheter. A substance is injected through the catheter, blocking the supply of blood to the kidney and cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the tumor.

This treatment can sometimes cause back pain and high temperature, which means you may have to stay in the hospital for a few days after the procedure.