Ice ball fractures during percutaneous renal cryoablation: risk factors and potential implications.

The authors present two cases of ice ball fractures with associated hemorrhage during percutaneous renal cryoablation procedures. Although this is a rare occurrence, it is important to be able to identify ice ball fractures on monitoring noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans during cryoablation, because they can result in significant bleeding, and recognition allows prompt intervention. Risk factors for ice ball fractures and potential implications are discussed.