sABLATE: A Simplified ABLATE Score for Prediction of Complications and Outcome in Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Renal Lesions

Objectives To evaluate the performance of a simplified-ABLATE score (sABLATE) in predicting complications and outcome in respect to RENAL, mRENAL and ABLATE scores. Methods This study included 136 renal lesions in 113 patients (M:F ratio=2.5; mean age 70.8 years). 98 tumors underwent cryoablation at San Raffaele hospital between 01/2015 and 03/2020, 37 microwave ablation at San Paolo or Policlinico hospitals between 07/2016 and 03/2020. RENAL, mRENAL, ABLATE and sABLATE scores were calculated using preprocedural imaging. Data regarding complications and follow-up were registered. Mann-Whitney U test, ROC analyses, and logistic regression analyses were used for complications. Cox-regression analyses were performed for outcome Results Mean tumor diameter was 23.2mm. Mean and median RENAL, mRENAL, ABLATE and sABLATE scores were 6.8 and 7, 6.9 and 7, 5.3 and 5, and 3.5 and 3, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 21.9 months (range 1-73) we registered 7 complications, 3 cases of residual disease and 10 local tumor progressions. Mann-Whitney U test p-values for complications for RENAL, mRENAL, ABLATE and sABLATE were 0.51, 0.49, 0.66 and 0.056 respectively. ROC analyses for complications showed an AUC for RENAL, mRENAL, ABLATE and sABLATE of 0.57, 0.57, 0.55 and 0.71 respectively. Regarding outcome, HR and p-values of Cox-regression analyses were 1.30 and 0.36 for RENAL, 1.33 and 0.35 for mRENAL, 2.16 and 0.01 for ABLATE, 2.29 and 0.004 for sABLATE.Conclusion sABLATE was the only score close to significance for complications, representing a progress even if not definitive. Regarding outcome, ABLATE confirmed its value, and sABLATE maintained validity despite being a simplification.