Purpose of Technology: Cryoablation of the prostate gland provides a minimally invasive treatment option for the management of localized prostate cancer. The technique uses percutaneously inserted cryoprobes to freeze and thereby destroy cancerous prostate tissue.

Rationale: The goals of minimally invasive cryoablation for salvage treatment of localized recurrences of prostate cancer after primary radiotherapy (RT) are to use focused cryoablation energy to ablate the entire prostate gland or the cancer-containing part of the gland and achieve complete tumor control to improve survival.

Controversy: Locally ablative therapies such as cryoablation may have less morbidity compared with other treatment options for localized recurrence of prostate cancer; however, questions remain about the long-term efficacy for local and distant tumor control and survival.

Relevant Questions:

  • Does salvage cryoablation provide effective local tumor control and acceptable rates of remission and long-term disease-free survival in patients with recurrent prostate cancer following failure of RT?
  • Does salvage cryoablation provide acceptable outcomes with regard to urinary function, prostate symptoms, and sexual function?
  • How does salvage cryoablation compare with other salvage treatment options for recurrent prostate cancer, including radical prostatectomy (RP)?
  • Is salvage cryoablation safe, and what are the related complications?
  • Have definitive patient selection criteria been established for salvage cryoablation treatment for recurrent prostate cancer?

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