Ep. 588 Breast Cryoablation: Techniques, Patient Selection & Outcomes with Dr. Robert Ward

As breast imaging is becoming increasingly sensitive, is cryoablation the next frontier for treating small cancers or patients who are poor surgical candidates? Learn from expert Dr. Robert Ward, associate professor and program director of the Breast Imaging Fellowship at Brown University as he provides a contemporary overview of the innovative field of breast cryoablation.

---

SYNPOSIS

Dr. Ward shares his journey to becoming an expert in breast cryoablation, from his start in residency to his well-developed service line today. He details his experience enrolling patients in the FROST Trial, which is investigating the role of breast cryoablation as an alternative for surgery in patients with early stage invasive breast cancer.

The conversation also covers the intricacies of the procedure, patient selection criteria, pre- and post-procedural care, and the significance of receptor positivity and clinical markers in treatment choices. Dr. Ward talks through the challenges in needle positioning prior to ice ball formation and the possibility of treating tumors close to the skin surface given appropriate wound care. The discussion concludes with a future look at how cryoablation could change the current paradigm of breast cancer care.

---

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction
01:39 - The Rise of Breast Cryoablation
06:40 - Challenges and Considerations in Cryoablation
07:59 - Patient Referral and Evaluation Process
13:35 - Equipment and Techniques for Cryoablation
23:29 - Procedure Steps and Needle Positioning
26:11 - Post-Procedure Thawing and Patient Expectations
28:35 - Post-Procedure Care and Follow-Up
34:20 - Future of Cryoablation in Breast Cancer Treatment
38:01 - Conclusion

---

RESOURCES

FROST Trial
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01992250

Brown et al., Strategies to Optimize Success in Breast Cancer Cryoablation, Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41083146/