Cryoablation Successfully Treats Recurrent Mesothelioma

Radiologists at the UCLA Medical Center are successfully killing tumor cells with extreme cold, also known as cryoablation, in patients with recurrent pleural mesothelioma. An outpatient procedure with few complications, cryoablation freezes the localized tumors with argon gas or liquid nitrogen, allowing patients to fight the almost-inevitable cancer recurrence after surgery. Dr. Fereidoun Abtin, a UCLA radiologist who performs the procedure, told Asbestos.com he is “convinced it works well for these patients.” “The results have been impressive, a lot better than what else is out there in the literature now,” Abtin said. “I’m not trying to boast, but it’s something we want people to know about.” Cryoablation, also known as cryotherapy and cryosurgery, is mostly performed for prostate, liver and kidney cancers. Unfortunately, doctors across the country have underutilized it for mesothelioma. It’s a viable option in the few places that offer the procedure. “Sometimes the best advocates are the patients themselves. They have more stakes in the game,” Abtin said. “We’re trying to expose it to the medical community so others will begin using it.” Impressive Cryoablation Results for Mesothelioma Abtin presented his findings earlier this year at the 6th International Symposium on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in Los Angeles. UCLA and the Pacific Meso Center hosted the event. Among his findings from the 110 mesothelioma cryoablation proce...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: cryoablation for cancer cryoablation for mesothelioma cryosurgery for mesothelioma cryotherapy for mesothelioma freezing cancer tumors mesothelioma treatment Source Type: news