Method for Cryoablating Invasive Breast Carcinoma

摘要

A method of treating cancerous lesions with optimized freezing periods at a single freezing temperature and minimal thawing time between freezing periods.

主权项

1. A method of treating a cancerous lesion in the breast of a patient, said method comprising:
providing a cryoprobe having a probe shaft to treat lesion, said cryoprobe characterized by a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, said distal end being adapted for insertion into the lesion, said cryoprobe being operable to create an iceball; determining the maximum lesion width by visualizing the lesion in a major axis relative to the cryoprobe shaft; determining the major axis and the minor axis of the lesion to be treated, and inserting the distal end of the cryoprobe into said lesion such that the longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the primary axis; operating the cryoprobe for a first cooling period limited to the approximate time necessary to create an iceball extending at least 10 mm in all directions from the maximum lesion width and thereafter immediately ceasing operation of the cryoprobe for a warming period limited to the approximate time necessary to passively warm the iceball to 0° C. and allow substantial completion of warming cell death mechanisms, and immediately thereafter operating the cryoprobe for a second cooling period and thereafter ceasing cooling operation of the cryoprobe; withdrawing the cryoprobe from the lesion.