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A Cryoablation Case Study

A Cryoablation Case Study

Dr. Dennis Holmes
November 23, 2022

Case Study: The following is a 74 year old who underwent cryoablation of a 19 mm invasive ductal carcinoma. She remains cancer free 8 years after cryoablation.

Image 1: 3 years after cryoablation.

Image 1: Photograph taken 3 years after cryoablation of a cancer in the upper outer right breast.

Cryoablation of a 19 mm invasive ductal carcinoma. 4 years of remission.

Image 2: Mammograms

Image 2: Mammograms with arrows showing the cancer site in 2015 and same area of the breast in 2018, with no evidence of residual cancer, just 2 biopsy clips placed at the time of the initial diagnostic needle biopsy and 6-month post-cryoablation needle biopsy.

Image 3: Breast MRI

Image 2: Mammograms with arrows showing the cancer site in 2015 and same area of the breast in 2018, with no evidence of residual cancer, just 2 biopsy clips placed at the time of the initial diagnostic needle biopsy and 6-month post-cryoablation needle biopsy.

Image 4: Pathology Slides

Image 4: Pathology results from original right breast needle biopsy and a repeat biopsy of the cancer site 6 months after cryoablation showing no residual cancer (see Image 5).

Image 5: Pathology Report

Image 5: Portion of pathology report showing
no residual tumor (cancer).

Dr. Dennis Holmes

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Cryoablation is emerging as a minimally invasive alternative to lumpectomy for select women with early-stage breast cancer. The FROST trial (NCT01992250) was a prospective, phase 2 multicenter study evaluating the outcome of cryoablation in the management of stage I, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-negative invasive ductal carcinoma.
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Cryoablation is emerging as a minimally invasive alternative to lumpectomy for select women with early-stage breast cancer. The FROST trial (NCT01992250) was a prospective, phase 2 multicenter study evaluating the outcome of cryoablation in the management of stage I, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-negative invasive ductal carcinoma.
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Many women fear that breast needle biopsies increase the risk of cancer spread due to tumor cell displacement. Although evidence suggests minimal impact on breast cancer loco-regional recurrence or distant metastasis, technical modifications of needle biopsy procedures, including the use of cryoablation, can reduce the potential risks of breast needle-biopsy-induced cancer cell displacement to reduce patient fears of breast needle biopsy procedures.
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Many women fear that breast needle biopsies increase the risk of cancer spread due to tumor cell displacement. Although evidence suggests minimal impact on breast cancer loco-regional recurrence or distant metastasis, technical modifications of needle biopsy procedures, including the use of cryoablation, can reduce the potential risks of breast needle-biopsy-induced cancer cell displacement to reduce patient fears of breast needle biopsy procedures.