How does cryoablation compare to lumpectomy in terms of recurrence rates?

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Cryoablation Shows Comparable Recurrence Rates to Surgical Lumpectomy in Early Data

Based on currently available short-term data, cryoablation demonstrates recurrence rates comparable to surgical lumpectomy, with both procedures showing a 1 per cent recurrence rate. This minimally invasive technique, which uses extreme cold to destroy diseased cells, is being explored as an alternative to traditional surgical interventions for certain low-risk, early-stage breast cancers.
Comparable Recurrence Rates

Current short-term follow-up data, extending up to five years, indicates that cryoablation has a recurrence rate of 1 per cent. This figure is similar to the 1 per cent recurrence rate observed with surgical lumpectomy, a procedure that involves removing the tumour and surrounding tissue.
Procedure and Patient Experience

Cryoablation involves inserting a thin needle, known as a cryoprobe, directly into the cancerous tumour. A cooling gas is then pumped through the probe to rapidly freeze and destroy the targeted diseased cells, often involving two freeze-thaw cycles to ensure complete destruction. This day-surgery procedure is typically performed with minimal discomfort, with patients experiencing largely intact breast structure and often feeling near-normal afterwards, as exemplified by one patient who returned to light household tasks on the same day.
Suitability and Limitations

This deep-freezing technique is generally considered for small, early-stage cancers with tumours less than 1.5cm, confined to a single site, and not aggressive or spread outside the breast. It may be an option for patients who cannot safely undergo surgery due to co-morbidities or when other local tumour control options are unavailable. However, cryoablation is not routinely offered for more aggressive tumours, ill-defined cancers, or in younger patients, and long-term data beyond five years is still lacking, necessitating careful patient selection.

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How does cryoablation compare to lumpectomy in terms of recurrence rates?

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