UPLAND—Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland Pennsylvania now offers a new laparoscopic surgical alternative to patients with kidney cancer. Frank L. D’Elia, M.D., chief of the Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, performed the first pure laparoscopic kidney cryoablation in Delaware County recently.

“Laparoscopic cryosurgery is a new option we can offer patients with kidney cancer,” says D’Elia. “After a thorough examination and review of the patient’s medical history, the size and location of the tumor, and the preference of the patient, we are able to determine if he or she is a candidate for this procedure.”

Cryosurgery, a technique that destroys cancer by freezing the cells, is a minimally invasive procedure that preserves the kidney and its function, while killing the cancer. The cold temperatures do not kill the cells, but the cells are destroyed in the thawing process, just like frostbite can cause permanent cell damage. The procedure, which has been performed through open surgery at Crozer since 2003, is now available as a minimally-invasive surgery for many patients.

During the surgery, D’Elia freezes the diseased part of the kidney, and then re-warms the probe so it can be removed without damaging any surrounding healthy tissue. Intraoperative ultrasound aids D’Elia and the surgical team in pinpointing the growth. D’Elia was assisted by Ilya Volfson, M.D., a Crozer-Keystone urologist who specializes in minimally invasive urologic procedures.

Its advantages are several, according to D’Elia, who says that the procedure is less invasive and traumatic than a radical nephrectomy, or removal of the kidney, which is not always an option for some patients. Additionally, because it is a minimally invasive procedure, the healing and recovery time is drastically reduced compared to open surgery.

Kidney cancer is diagnosed in approximately 38,000 Americans each year. It is slightly more common in males and is usually diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70 years old. Not all patients are candidates for laparoscopic kidney cryoablation; however, cryosurgery has increased the number of elderly or frail patients who can tolerate the surgery.

“Now that this procedure is performed at Crozer, patients don’t have to leave the area to obtain state-of-the-art urological care,” says D’Elia. “It demonstrates Crozer-Keystone’s commitment to providing the best care possible to patients.”