Spine Cryoablation: A Multimodality Image-Guided Approach for Tumors Adjacent to Major Neural Elements

SUMMARY: We report percutaneous cryoablation of spine tumors in 7 consecutive patients (5 men, 2 women [mean age, 47 years; range, 17–68 years]) by using intraprocedural image monitoring of ice ball margins to protect adjacent neural elements. Complete tumor ablation was achieved in all patients without neurologic complication. Pain relief was achieved in 4 of 5 (80%) patients; the patient with persistent pain was later found to have enlarging metastases at other sites.