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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.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

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.

In short

Private cryoablation in London: £8,500-£14,000 per session all-inclusive.

Procedure Indicative range
Diagnostic review and MDT-style opinion £350-£600
Renal cryoablation (T1a, single probe) £8,500-£11,000
Renal cryoablation (T1a, multiple probes) £10,000-£13,000
Lung metastasis cryoablation £9,500-£13,500
Liver metastasis cryoablation £9,000-£13,000
Bone metastasis cryoablation (palliative) £8,500-£12,000
Breast cryoablation (benign fibroadenoma or trial) £8,500-£12,500

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.

Where it is done

Where cryoablation is performed.

What to look for is an interventional oncology team with cryoablation volume, guidance suites and MDT backup.

  • Royal Marsden Private (Interventional Radiology)

    Chelsea and Sutton

  • University College London Hospital Private

    Bloomsbury

  • HCA London Bridge Hospital

    London Bridge

  • HCA The Wellington Hospital

    St John’s Wood

  • Guy’s and St Thomas’ Private Healthcare

    Southwark

  • The Christie Private

    Manchester

Availability of cryoablation varies by tumour site and case complexity across these units.

Indications

When cryoablation is the right step - and when it is not.

The tumours most often considered, and the situations where cryo is set aside in favour of surgery, SBRT, microwave or radiofrequency.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Liver metastasis under 3 cm

    Selected liver metastases where surgery is not the preferred option, or as part of a multimodal strategy alongside chemotherapy.

  • 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.

  • Breast fibroadenoma (benign)

    A well-established alternative to surgical excision for symptomatic benign fibroadenomas, done under local anaesthetic with ultrasound guidance.

  • Select breast cancer within a trial

    Small unifocal invasive ductal cancers within registered UK trial pathways only. Outside a trial, breast cancer cryoablation is not standard practice.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Ultrasound-guided cryoablation

    Used for superficial targets such as benign breast fibroadenoma. Fast, well tolerated under local anaesthetic in a clinic setting.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. One of these may fit a given 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Bleeding

    A small perinephric or perihepatic bleed is uncommon but real. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are reviewed and paused where safe before the procedure.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 UK interventional radiologist reviewing a post-cryoablation scan

A quiet reminder

Ablation language is precise and can read coldly - ask your clinician to explain anything that is unclear.

If anything about the report is unclear, ask your clinician to talk you through it before your review.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for cryoablation varies by insurer and by indication - usually funded for T1a renal masses and painful bone metastases when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Common questions about cryoablation.

Quick answers on day-case vs overnight stay, repeatability, insurance, tumour size and kidney function.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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