# Cryoablation

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/cryoablation/  
OnCo record `cryoablation` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Destroying a tumour by freezing it with a needle that reaches minus 40°C or below; the ice ball is visible on CT, so the treated zone can be watched forming.

## Summary

Used for small renal masses (where it rivals partial nephrectomy in frail patients), bone and soft-tissue metastases for pain, early prostate cancer, breast fibroadenomas and small breast cancers, and lung tumours. Freezing is less painful than heat and preserves collagen scaffolds, and dying frozen cells release intact antigens, which motivates trials pairing cryoablation with checkpoint inhibitors. Larger tumours need multiple probes.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-09
- Also known as: cryotherapy; cryosurgery; percutaneous cryoablation

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryoablation
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryoablation

## Connected records

- terms: [Creams, light and cold for basal cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/terms/topical-and-destructive-treatment-bcc/), [Microwave ablation (MWA)](https://onco.cc/terms/microwave-ablation/), [Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)](https://onco.cc/terms/radiofrequency-ablation/)
- cancers: [Basal cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/basal-cell-carcinoma/), [Clear cell renal cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/clear-cell-rcc/), [Prostate cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/prostate/), [Renal cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/rcc/), [Skin cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/skin-cancer/)
- fronts: [Surgery & Interventional](https://onco.cc/fronts/surgery/)
- technologies: [Cryoablation systems](https://onco.cc/technologies/cryoablation-systems/), [Microwave and radiofrequency ablation systems](https://onco.cc/technologies/microwave-rf-ablation/), [Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo)](https://onco.cc/technologies/thermal-ablation/)
- trials: [Photodynamic therapy against cryotherapy for superficial basal cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/trials/mal-pdt-versus-cryotherapy-superficial-bcc/)

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