ePoster
Presentation Description
Institution: North Shore Hospital - Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
Purpose
Cryoablation is an emerging minimally invasive treatment option for breast cancer in elderly patients with small (≤15mm) low-risk tumours for whom the risk of surgery is very high. This outpatient procedure is performed by a Breast Imaging or Interventional Specialist under local anaesthetic, using freezing and thawing cycles to form an ablative ice-ball that encompasses the tumour. Studies have shown acceptable oncologic and cosmetic outcomes in carefully selected patients, with randomised data awaited.
Methods
We present two cases of breast cancer cryoablation from North Shore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. First case was performed in June 2024. Both patients had small (12mm and 15mm) biopsy-proven grade 2, hormone positive cancers and significant cardiorespiratory comorbidities precluding general anaesthetic. Outcomes were followed for 12-18 months.
Results
Both patients had technically successful procedures performed under ultrasound guidance. Saline hydrodissection was used to protect skin and there were no immediate complications.
Both patients took adjuvant endocrine therapy. Patient A had follow-up at one, four and ten months with no clinical signs of recurrence and imaging showing fat necrosis only. She was subsequently diagnosed with critical limb-threatening ischaemia from an occluded iliac stent. Patient B declined all follow-up as she became unwell with end-stage heart failure following a NSTEMI three months post cryoablation.
Conclusion
We demonstrate the feasibility of this technique and the importance of good patient selection. In both cases medical comorbidities became life limiting, suggesting a minimally invasive treatment for breast cancer was appropriate.
Presenters
Authors
Authors
Dr Fiona Bellamy - , Dr Kaye Wang - , Dr Kate Rapson -
