Arun Kanti Roy first reported to Dr. Gopalakrishna, Consultant Urologist, Fortis Hospitals Kolkata with severe abdominal pain.

A CT scan revealed a 3 cm tumor in the middle of the patient’s left kidney.

The standard treatment for these tumors is either removal of the whole kidney or removing part of the kidney.

However, Roy was apprised of a new method called ‘Radiofrequency Ablation’ (RFA) wherein a special electrode is inserted in the skin through a pinhole and the tumor is then heated till the tumor cells are killed.

Opting for RFA, the patient came to Dr Shuvro Roy Choudhury, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, Fortis Hospitals.

To make a definite histological diagnosis, Dr Shuvro Roy Choudhury performed two biopsy cores (examination of cells and tissues) from the tumor prior to starting the ablation. The procedure of RFA was performed under a short general anesthetic lasting around 35 minutes.

 Under CT guidance a thin electrode was inserted into the centre of the tumor and the treatment was continued according to a set algorithm for 12 minutes. A second ablation zone was also performed to ensure that there was enough margin around the tumor to prevent any recurrence.

Dr Shuvro Roy Choudhury (Consultant Interventional Radiologist Fortis Hospitals) said, “Mr. Roy’s case was a complex one since his colon was very close to the tumor, raising the possibility of inadvertent heat injury to the colon. This was prevented by placing a needle between the kidney tumor and the colon and inserting a layer of dextrose saline to form a buffer between the heated tumor and the colon.

“This procedure is known as Hydrodissection and was done for the first time in India. On a post-operative round the patient was sitting up after two hours. He had normal dinner and was ready for discharge the following morning.”

Subsequent to this, after 1 month the patient had a follow up CT and a subsequent MRI performed at one and four months confirmed that no residual tumor is left in the kidney. The patient was delighted with the outcome and is completely fit now.

Dr Shuvro Roy Choudhury said, “Tumors can nowadays be successfully treated using pinhole surgery with minimum side effects and without scars. These ‘new age’ treatments save the whole organ from being taken out of the body. Hence interventional or pinhole surgeries are the treatments of future. As there is lack of recognition the awareness has to be spread.”

Dr. R K Gopala Krishna (Consultant Urologist Fortis Hospitals) says, “Radiofrequency Ablation is a relatively new method of treating kidney cancers which restores the renal function to its best. It solves the problem without damaging the kidney and least disturbances in the body system.

“Usually patients make a very rapid recovery and are sent home the following day after surgery. There are no scars and only a Band-Aid is sufficient to cover the operation site.

 Roy said, “After I got back to my senses I could not believe that the surgery was already over. I asked my doctor when will he operate on me and he said its already over while I could feel no pain or discomfort.

“I just hope proper awareness is spread about this treatment so that more people are saved from painful surgeries.”