PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Localized renal cell carcinoma has an excellent 5-year 
survival when treated surgically. Apart from extirpative treatment, ablative 
techniques are becoming more popular to minimize patient morbidity. Clinically, 
radio frequency ablation and cryoablation can be performed percutaneously or 
laparoscopically. Oncological effectiveness of ablative techniques is 
encouraging as 3-year data are emerging. Our review highlights the current 
literature demonstrating the effectiveness of cryoablation and radio frequency 
ablation performed laparoscopically or percutaneously.
RECENT FINDINGS: Cryoablation performed laparoscopically or percutaneously 
offers excellent oncological outcomes with single-session therapy. With 3-year 
cancer-specific survival of 98%, laparoscopic cryoablation is safe and can be 
performed with minimal insult to overall renal function. Local recurrence rates 
and metastatic progression also seem to favor cryoablation over radio frequency 
ablation (4.6 vs. 11.7% and 1.2 vs. 2.3%, respectively). Radio frequency 
ablation also offers similar survival rates; however, re-treatment rates are 
higher (8.8%). Radio frequency ablation also carries a higher rate of collecting 
system injuries when performed percutaneously.
SUMMARY: Cryoablation and radio frequency ablation are effective treatment 
modalities for small renal masses in the infirm patient. Given patient and 
technical variability, superiority of either radio frequency ablation or 
cryoablation cannot be confirmed based on available literature. However, there 
is a trend towards higher recurrence and re-treatment rates after radio 
frequency ablation.