Dr. Lassen Receives Cryotherapy Certification
Longview Urology recently became the first area practice to offer cryotherapy for treating kidney tumors. This minimally invasive technology – known as cryoablation – destroys small kidney tumors by freezing them. The same technique can be used to treat prostate cancer.
Patrick Lassen, MD, at Longview Urology received credentials in early June to begin conducting the procedure. Benefits for patients typically include same-day release or a one-night hospital stay, a recovery time of only 6 to 8 days, and an excellent success rate in treating the tumors.
Dr. Patrick M. Lassen
Traditionally, kidney tumors have been treated by removing the entire kidney, as well as the surrounding adrenal gland and fat of the kidney. However, this more radical type of surgery is often not necessary for dealing with smaller kidney tumors.
During cryoablation, one or more fine needles are placed into the tumor. After the needles have been inserted, argon gas is delivered under pressure into a chamber inside the needle tip. The argon gas expands and cools to approximately -125°, producing a frozen area around the needle.
The tumor is typically frozen twice during the procedure, which can be conducted through either a traditional open incision or through a minimally invasive method performed with laparoscopic guidance. Following the treatment, scans are performed at intervals to determine the procedure’s success.
Each year, 38,000 Americans are diagnosed with kidney (renal) cancer. As is the case with all types of cancer, survival rates are much higher if the cancer is treated in its early stages. A recent study of cryoablation for kidney cancer examined 168 patients who had undergone cryoablation. At five years after the procedure, there were no deaths as a result of kidney cancer and only three patients needed further treatment during that period.
Cryotherapy has a proven track record and has been used to treat prostate cancer for more than a decade. A study released in October 2003 showed that 97 percent of patients with prostate cancer who received cryotherapy were still cancer-free after twelve months. Recovery time for patients who undergo prostatic cryotherapy is virtually the same as for those who have renal cryotherapy.
Insurance coverage will determine whether the procedure is conducted at St. John Medical Center or Pacific Surgical Center.
As part of the credentialing process, Lassen received special training from industry leaders in Texas. He also handled several supervised cases in Longview.
