Hospital Trust performs 1000th pioneering kidney tumour procedure
Doctors at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) have performed their 1,000th kidney (renal) tumour procedure using a pioneering minimally invasive technique that avoids the need for surgery.
Known as cryoablation, it is a form of thermal ablation – a highly precise, image guided treatment that uses extreme heat or cold to destroy cancer cells – and is associated with fewer short-term complications than surgery, while better preserving kidney function.
Patients typically experience less pain, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays, with many able to return home the same day, while achieving outcomes comparable to surgery.
The approach is particularly valuable for patients who are not suitable for major surgery due to having a single functioning kidney, certain inherited conditions or tumours that were previously considered inoperable.
The milestone places the Trust among a very small number of centres worldwide to reach this number, reinforcing its position as a global leader in interventional oncology.
It also follows new guidelines released by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in March which recommend the procedure should be rolled out across the NHS.
The guidance was shaped in part by the work of the interventional oncology team at UHS led by consultant abdominal radiologist Dr David Breen and consultant oncology radiologist Dr Alex King.
Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the UK, with around 13,900 new cases diagnosed each year.
Michael Chilton, aged 72, from Winterbourne Gunner near Salisbury, recently underwent the 1,000th renal cryoablation procedure at UHS.
Diagnosed with a tumour in his left-kidney around six weeks ago, he was able to undergo the procedure as an alternative to major surgery and returned home the next day.
“I feel really fortunate to have such an incredible hospital nearby,” he said. “Knowing that UHS is a global leader in this field, gave me real confidence in my care.
“From the moment I was diagnosed, everything was explained clearly, and the procedure itself was much less daunting than I expected. Everything has gone incredibly smoothly and I’m already starting to feel like myself again.”
Southampton’s image guided ablation service, established in 2001 and now marking its 25th anniversary, has become a national leader, training most major UK centres in cryoablation and playing a key role in developing microwave ablation services.
Cryoablation was pioneered at UHS in 2008 by Dr Breen – and Southampton remains at the forefront of CT-guided ablation within the UK for kidney, bone, lung and soft tissue tumours.
UHS currently runs the UK’s only MRI guided cryoablation service, offering advanced treatment options for complex cases, particularly for prostate cancer.
Dr Breen said: “Our goal has always been to provide patients with a treatment that is as effective as surgery but with significantly lower risk and much faster recovery.
“By leading the European Renal Cryoablation (EuRECA) Registry and generating the evidence that underpins current NICE guidance, we are not only improving outcomes for our patients but also helping to define the standard of care for kidney cancer internationally.”
Clinical research led by the UHS radiology team has demonstrated a 94% five-year recurrence free survival rate for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.
Dr King added: “This milestone reflects the dedication of our specialist team and the trust patients place in us. Treating 1,000 renal tumours with cryoablation is a significant achievement and demonstrates how far this minimally invasive technique has advanced as a safe and effective alternative to surgery.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of delivering such innovative, patient-centred cancer care.”