A small scale study into the efficacy of cryoablation, where the needle-tip of a probe is frozen to -100°C and used to destroy tissue, has proved phenomenally successful in eliminating cancerous lung tumours. A treatment rather than a cure, the future potential of the technique appears bright.
The results of a study on cryoablation were presented at the 38th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology in New Orleans. The treatment has passed the first round of trials known as ECLIPSE (Evaluating Cryoablation of Metastatic Lung/Pleura Tumors in Patents — Safety and Efficacy) with astonishing results.
The process was tested on 22 patients with a combined total of 36 tumors who were given 27 cryoablation treatments. At a three month follow up, all of the patients’ tumors remained dead. At six months, five of the 22 patients’ tumors were examined and found to still be dead. The research is unclear on the status of the remaining 17 patients.
(Image: “Mr Freeze’ Warner bros)