Use of hydrodissection to prevent nerve and muscular damage during radiofrequency ablation of kidney tumors

Muscular complications are uncommon but have been reported after radiofrequency (RF) ablation of renal tumors. Ablation of renal lesions near the psoas muscle may result in paresthesia in the distribution of the genitofemoral nerve. The present report describes a case of sensory and muscular dysfunction after RF ablation of a renal lesion lying on top of the psoas muscle that was treated without hydrodissection. To prevent this complication, hydrodissection was effectively used in two other patients during RF ablation of lesions abutting or in close proximity to the psoas muscle.