Breast Cryoablation, From the <i>AJR</i> “How We Do It” Special Series
Jothika V. Challapalli, J. Yoon, Robert C. Ward
Abstract
Breast cryoablation is a minimally invasive image-guided percutaneous procedure for the treatment of fibroadenomas and early-stage breast cancer that uses liquid nitrogen or argon gas to create extremely cold temperatures that devitalize targeted tissue. Although more long-term data are needed, this outpatient procedure is well-tolerated and carries minimal risks, including nontarget thermal injury that can be mitigated by careful planning and proper technique. Building a sustainable breast cryoablation service in a radiology practice poses several practical considerations, such as training proceduralists, purchasing equipment, recruiting patients, and understanding the revenue cycle. This Special Series Review describes aspects of the radiologist's role in this procedure, including implementation of a breast ablation program, patient selection, technical details related to intervention, and expected postprocedural outcomes.