Interventional oncology · London
Tumour cryoablation - private in London.
Image-guided freezing of small kidney, lung, liver, bone and breast tumours - done by an interventional radiologist with real ablation volume, in a CT or MRI guidance suite, with MDT sign-off before every case.
Why patients choose us
- 01
An interventional radiologist with real ablation volume
Not a general IR list. A named interventional radiologist doing high-volume cryoablation, in a unit with a proper CT or MRI guidance suite and MDT backup.
- 02
The right ablation modality for the tumour
Cryo is not always the answer. For some tumours microwave, RFA or SBRT is a better fit. We say so before you commit.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
What it is
Freezing a tumour, precisely, under image guidance.
Cryoablation is percutaneous placement of one or more thin cryoprobes into a tumour under CT or MRI guidance. Argon gas within the probe tip creates an ice ball at -40C to -70C, which ablates the tumour tissue. Two freeze-thaw cycles are used as standard.
A visible ice ball
The ice ball forms as a low-density zone on CT and a signal void on MRI, so the ablation margin around the tumour is checked in real time.
Preserves the framework
Cryo preserves the collagen scaffold of vessels, nerves and airways, so it is often safer than heat-based ablation near critical structures.
Less painful than heat
Freezing has an intrinsic analgesic effect on nerve tissue, so post-procedure pain is typically less than after radiofrequency, particularly in bone.
Indicative pricing
What private tumour cryoablation costs in London.
All-inclusive per session: guidance imaging, general anaesthetic, probe kit, hospital stay and follow-up scan. Send the imaging and we quote firm figures.
In short
Private cryoablation in London: £8,500-£14,000 per session all-inclusive.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic review and MDT-style opinion | £350-£600 | 30-45 min | 48 hours |
| Renal cryoablation (T1a, single probe) | £8,500-£11,000 | 2 hours | Overnight stay |
| Renal cryoablation (T1a, multiple probes) | £10,000-£13,000 | 2-3 hours | Overnight stay |
| Lung metastasis cryoablation | £9,500-£13,500 | 2 hours | Overnight stay |
| Liver metastasis cryoablation | £9,000-£13,000 | 2 hours | Overnight stay |
| Bone metastasis cryoablation (palliative) | £8,500-£12,000 | 90-120 min | Same day or 1 night |
| Breast cryoablation (benign fibroadenoma or trial) | £8,500-£12,500 | 60-90 min | Same day |
Prices vary by unit, by which interventional radiologist does the case, by the number of probes needed and by any adjuncts such as hydrodissection or cementoplasty. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
Where it is done
The London centres we introduce patients to.
A small panel of interventional oncology teams with cryoablation volume, guidance suites and MDT backup. Introductions are made privately once we understand your case.
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Royal Marsden Private (Interventional Radiology)
Chelsea and Sutton
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University College London Hospital Private
Bloomsbury
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HCA London Bridge Hospital
London Bridge
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HCA The Wellington Hospital
St John’s Wood
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Guy’s and St Thomas’ Private Healthcare
Southwark
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The Christie Private (partner network)
Manchester
Availability of cryoablation varies by tumour site and case complexity across these units. We match you to the right one.
The journey
From referral to follow-up imaging - what happens, in order.
One team from first message to surveillance imaging - including the MDT sign-off and the follow-up scans.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours in the guidance suite
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You send us the imaging and MDT letter
A short, confidential form. The tumour site, size, imaging (CT, MRI, PET-CT), biopsy result if any, and prior treatments.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether cryoablation fits, or whether microwave, RFA, SBRT or surgery is the better call. Indicative price. An honest read either way.
- 03
Before
We arrange the ablation
Usually within one to two weeks. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are reviewed. Fasting and anaesthetic pre-assessment are booked.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the guidance suite
Arrival, consent and a chat with the interventional radiologist and anaesthetist. General anaesthetic or deep sedation depending on tumour site.
- 05
On the day
The cryoablation itself
One to multiple thin cryoprobes placed under CT or MRI guidance. Two freeze-thaw cycles at -40 to -70C, 20 to 40 minutes per cycle, total around two hours.
- 06
On the day
Overnight or same-day home
Most cases stay one night for observation. Small renal, bone and breast cases often go home the same day with written aftercare.
- 07
After
Imaging follow-up and surveillance
Contrast CT or MRI at 4-6 weeks to confirm ablation margin, then at 3, 6 and 12 months. Onward MDT discussion if any residual enhancement.
Typical end-to-end: 1-2 weeks to procedure. First follow-up scan: 4-6 weeks. Surveillance: 3, 6 and 12 months.
Indications
When cryoablation is the right step - and when it is not.
The tumours we see most, and the situations where cryo is set aside in favour of surgery, SBRT, microwave or radiofrequency.
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Small renal mass (T1a, under 4 cm)
An alternative to partial nephrectomy in elderly or comorbid patients, or where nephron preservation matters. Excellent local control at 5 years.
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Lung metastasis under 3 cm
Oligometastatic lung deposits from colorectal, renal, sarcoma or other primaries where the ice ball can be safely formed away from major vessels.
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Liver metastasis under 3 cm
Selected liver metastases where surgery is not the preferred option, or as part of a multimodal strategy alongside chemotherapy.
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Painful bone metastasis
Focal painful skeletal metastases (spine, pelvis, long bone) where cryo gives durable pain relief with less procedural pain than heat-based ablation.
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Breast fibroadenoma (benign)
A well-established alternative to surgical excision for symptomatic benign fibroadenomas, done under local anaesthetic with ultrasound guidance.
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Select breast cancer within a trial
Small unifocal invasive ductal cancers within registered UK trial pathways only. We refer, we do not offer off-trial breast cancer cryo.
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Tumour near a nerve or vessel
Cryo preserves the collagen framework of vessels and nerves, so it is often the safest option near critical structures where heat-based ablation is risky.
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When cryo is not right
Central hilar renal tumours, tumours over 4 cm in a single ablation, uncorrectable coagulopathy, or where surgery or SBRT is clearly the better option.
Technique and alternatives
Cryoablation compared to microwave, RFA and SBRT.
Microwave and radiofrequency use heat; SBRT uses focused radiotherapy over 3-5 visits; cryo uses cold with a visible ice ball. We match modality to tumour.
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Percutaneous cryoablation
The standard route: thin cryoprobes placed through the skin under CT or MRI guidance, one to multiple probes triangulated around the tumour to shape the ice ball.
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CT-guided cryoablation
Repeat CT passes visualise the ice ball as a low-density zone growing around each probe, so the ablation margin is checked in real time before the second freeze.
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MRI-guided cryoablation
MRI shows the ice ball beautifully as a signal void, so is preferred for tumours close to bowel, ureter or nerve where the exact margin matters most.
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Ultrasound-guided cryoablation
Used for superficial targets such as benign breast fibroadenoma. Fast, well tolerated under local anaesthetic in a clinic setting.
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Hydrodissection and pyeloperfusion
Saline or dextrose is injected to push bowel or ureter away from the ice ball. Warm saline can be run up the ureter to protect it during renal cryo.
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Two freeze-thaw cycles
The workhorse protocol: freeze for 10 minutes, passive thaw, freeze again for 10 minutes. Two cycles kill more tumour cells than one longer freeze.
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Cryoablation plus cementoplasty
For bone metastases in weight-bearing sites, cryo is combined with injected cement to restore structural support and give durable pain relief.
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When microwave, RFA or SBRT is better
Microwave is faster and gives a larger ablation zone in the liver. SBRT is non-invasive but takes 3-5 visits. We say so if it fits your case better.
Outcomes
What the published series show.
Outcomes are best for small, well-selected tumours in experienced hands. Your individual result depends on tumour site, size, biology and MDT context.
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Renal T1a
Local control of 90-95% at 5 years for small renal masses under 4 cm treated with percutaneous cryoablation - comparable to partial nephrectomy in selected patients.
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Lung metastases
Local control of 85-90% for lung metastases under 3 cm at 2-3 year follow-up, particularly for oligometastatic colorectal, renal and sarcoma disease.
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Bone metastases
Meaningful pain relief in 80-90% of painful skeletal metastases within 1-4 weeks, often durable to 6 months and beyond, particularly when combined with cementoplasty.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of interventional radiologists, we picked them.
Consultant interventional radiologists with high cryoablation case volumes, in units with proper CT and MRI guidance suites. Introductions are made privately once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every interventional radiologist in our network.
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Interventional radiologists with high cryoablation case volumes, not general IR lists
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CT and MRI guidance suites set up for ablation, with anaesthetic support
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MDT sign-off before every case, with urology, oncology or hepatobiliary as needed
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Onward pathways to microwave, RFA, SBRT or surgery when cryo is not the right call
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Cryoablation is a well-established interventional oncology procedure. The things worth planning are the anaesthetic, mild site discomfort for 3-7 days, and back to work in a week.
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General anaesthetic or deep sedation
Most cases need GA or anaesthetist-delivered deep sedation, especially lung and liver where breath-hold control matters. Bone and breast cases are often lighter.
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Post-ablation site discomfort
Mild flank, chest or bone discomfort for 3-7 days at the ablation site, usually well controlled with paracetamol and a short course of oral analgesia.
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Pneumothorax with lung cryoablation
A small pneumothorax occurs in around 20-30% of lung cryoablations. Most settle on their own; a minority need a small chest drain overnight.
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Bleeding
A small perinephric or perihepatic bleed is uncommon but real. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are reviewed and paused where safe before the procedure.
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Cryoshock in large-volume ablation
A rare systemic response to very large-volume freezing, more relevant to open cryosurgery than modern percutaneous work. Ablation size is planned to avoid it.
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Kidney function preserved in most cases
Renal cryoablation preserves most of the surrounding parenchyma, so eGFR loss is typically small compared with partial nephrectomy. Baseline function is checked first.
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Bowel, ureter and nerve protection
Hydrodissection, pyeloperfusion and MRI monitoring are used to protect nearby structures. The ice ball is visualised in real time as it forms.
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Back to work in a week
Most people are back to desk work in 3-7 days. Heavy lifting and vigorous exercise are held for 2 weeks after renal or liver cryoablation.
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Red flags after discharge
Heavy fresh bleeding, breathlessness, fever over 38.5C, or severe pain unresponsive to simple analgesia need the unit or A&E the same day.
Reading your ablation report
Your cryoablation report in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever site was treated, the report the interventional radiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Ablation language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the report before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Tumour site, size and probe layout
Where the tumour is, its size in millimetres on pre-procedure imaging, and how many cryoprobes were used and how they were positioned.
- 02 Technique
Guidance, cycles and protection
CT or MRI guidance, the freeze-thaw protocol (typically 10-8-10 minutes), any hydrodissection or pyeloperfusion, and any adjuncts such as cementoplasty.
- 03 Findings
Ice ball margin and complications
Whether the ice ball covered the tumour with a clear margin, and any intra-procedure events such as pneumothorax, bleeding or nerve concern.
- 04 Impression
Follow-up imaging and MDT plan
Read this first: when contrast CT or MRI is booked (usually 4-6 weeks, then 3, 6 and 12 months) and the MDT discussion date.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for cryoablation varies by insurer and by indication - usually funded for T1a renal masses and painful bone metastases when medically indicated. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about cryoablation.
Quick answers on day-case vs overnight stay, repeatability, insurance, tumour size and kidney function.
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Is cryoablation an outpatient procedure?
Small renal, bone and breast cryoablations are often day-case. Lung and liver cases usually involve one overnight stay for observation, particularly to watch for a pneumothorax after lung ablation. You are back at home the next morning in most cases.
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Can cryoablation be repeated if needed?
Yes. Cryoablation is repeatable, and one of its practical advantages over surgery. If follow-up imaging shows a small area of residual or new enhancement, a repeat targeted ablation is usually straightforward in the same guidance suite.
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Will my insurance cover private cryoablation?
Cover varies by insurer and indication. Cryoablation is usually funded for T1a renal masses and for painful bone metastases when medically indicated, with pre-authorisation. Lung and liver cryo cover is more variable. We confirm cover in writing before booking.
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What tumour size can be treated in one session?
The reliable size limit for a single ablation is around 4 cm, and results are best for tumours under 3 cm. Larger tumours can be treated with multiple triangulated probes to create an overlapping ice ball, but above 4 cm the local control rate drops and other modalities are considered.
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What is recovery like?
Mild flank or ablation-site discomfort for 3-7 days, controlled with paracetamol and short-course analgesia. Most people are back to desk work in 3-7 days. Heavy lifting and vigorous exercise are held for 2 weeks after renal or liver cryoablation.
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Will my kidney function be affected?
Renal cryoablation preserves most of the surrounding kidney tissue, so the drop in eGFR is typically small - much less than with partial nephrectomy - and often clinically negligible in patients with good baseline function. We check kidney function before and after.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Microwave liver tumour ablation
Heat-based liver ablation, larger and faster ablation zone.
Learn more -
NanoKnife (IRE)
Irreversible electroporation for tumours near vessels or ducts.
Learn more -
Y-90 radioembolisation
Selective internal radiation therapy for liver tumours.
Learn more -
Oligometastasis SBRT
Stereotactic radiotherapy for a small number of metastases.
Learn more -
Proton beam therapy
Precision proton radiotherapy for selected tumours.
Learn more -
Prostate cancer
Diagnosis and treatment pathways for prostate cancer.
Learn more
Ready when you are
Send us the imaging. We come back within a working day.
A named interventional radiologist, in a London centre with a proper guidance suite, with an MDT letter and a firm quote before you commit. Independent, and free.