Peter John Littrup MD, Presenter: Founder, CryoMedix, LLC Research grant, Galil Medical Ltd Research grant, Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc

1. Understand how ablation of metastases to soft tissue locations could produce a major impact on numerous cancer types. 2. Describe the major anatomic locations that are considered non-organ soft tissue metastatic sites. 3. Describe the major pros and cons related to ablation technologies that have been used for soft tissue ablation: radiofrequency, microwave, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryoablation. 4. Describe the outcomes for procedure complication and recurrence rates for the major anatomic sites. 5. Describe the potential economic impacts of ablation as part of palliative care for major cancer types (e.g., renal, lung, colorectal, ovarian).  

Thermal ablation devices are being studied as local treatment for predominantly metastatic foci in non-organ locations. For soft tissue ablation, we grouped these locations as predominantly residing within bone, intraperitoneal, retroperitoneal and superficial anatomic regions. While multiple heat-based ablation technology have been more commonly used in the lung and liver, soft tissue locations may favor cryoablation due to its excellent visualization by US/CT/MR, low procedure pain and flexible use of hydrodissection for tumors near skin or bowel. Very low complication and recurrence rates have translated into improved survival for several major cancer groups compared with historical controls. Further trials are needed to substantiate cost-efficacy of soft tissue ablation has part of palliative metastatic care. 

Littrup, P, Ablation of Soft-Tissue Tumors.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11003434.html