FAIRFAX, Va.-The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) is presenting the latest research on treatments for individuals with kidney, prostate and bone cancer; herniated disks; peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and related complications; childbirth difficulties; and more at its 34thAnnual Scientific Meeting March 7-12 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif.

Below are highlights of key interventional radiology studies being presented.

Cancer Advances

Using Focal Therapy/3-D Mapping for Prostate Cancer: Look, No Surgery
Interventional radiology offers good news for older men. The so-called "male lumpectomy"-a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment for prostate cancer-is as effective as surgery in destroying diseased tumors and can be considered a first-line treatment. "Our data show that focal cryoablation is as good for prostate cancer control as any other treatment-including surgery, radiation and hormone therapy-but it is less invasive and traumatic for patients, preserves sexual and urinary function and has no major complications," says Gary Onik, M.D., who will present his 12-year study results. And details about a better mapping biopsy for determining the extent of prostate cancer will be given.

Killing Kidney Cancer With Cold: Remarkable Results
More than 75 percent of individuals who are diagnosed with kidney cancer have tumors that are 4 centimeters or less in size. A leading cancer center weighs in with three-year results about the safety and efficacy of freezing-or using cryoablation-for kidney cancer tumors. This interventional radiology treatment is shown to be near 100 percent effective for destroying localized tumors and as effective as laparoscopic surgery.

Seeing "Lazarus Effect": Relieving Painful Bone Tumor Pain
Interventional radiologists can improve the quality of life for patients who have very large metastases and who are living with cancer, offering them "miraculous" effects and pain relief with osteoplasty. Immediate good clinical results are being seen in metastatic bone disease patients-who have no other options, who are in pain, who have short life expectancies and who have dismal quality of life. This news should encourage more widespread application of this palliative interventional radiology treatment.

Back Pain Treatment
Treating Herniated Disks: Pain Relief From Unexpected Source
Back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Having a herniated disk can affect how one performs everyday activities and can cause severe pain that influences everything one does. However, invasive surgery for herniated disks will become a thing of the past-especially given the positive results of minimally invasive interventional radiology oxygen/ozone injection treatments. "The interventional radiology oxygen/ozone treatment takes a minimalist approach. It's all about being gentle," says Kieran J. Murphy, M.D.

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