Cryoablation

UW Health radiology department uses cryoablation to freeze and destroy tumors.

What is Cryoablation?

Cryoablation destroys cells with extremely cold temperatures. Radiologists use an image-guided cyroprobe inserted into the skin to locate tumors and direct a small ball of ice that freezes and destroys them.

Depending on the tumor and the types of tissue, the range of temperature used in cryoablation falls between -20 degrees Centigrade and -50 degress Centigrade.

Advantages

• Cryoablation allows for the use multiple probes simultaneously
• The freezing process is nearly painless
• Ice formation is easily monitored with ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
• The pattern of tissue destruction is predictable
• Very few complications