Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma is a prevalent form of malignant kidney tumors, making up 90% of diagnosed cases. It can be effectively treated through a range of options, including active surveillance, surgery, and cryoablation. However, the specific procedural approach used depends on multiple factors such as the individual characteristics of the tumor (size, location, multifocality, and bilateral disease) as well as the underlying health and comorbidities of the patient (solitary kidney; familial renal cell carcinoma; chronic kidney disease; proteinuria; previous abdominal surgeries; and comorbidities that have the potential to affect renal function, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and kidney stones). When cryoablation is used as a treatment modality, it carries the risk of potential complications such as hemorrhage, urinary system injury, and colon injury from damage to collateral tissues as a result of the proximity between the kidney and colon. However, bowel injuries after cryoablation are uncommon (1% complication rate), with colorenal fistula formation being even more rare. There are a limited number of case reports available to guide management of a secondary colorenal fistula, with conservative measures involving percutaneous drainage and antibiotics being the most common, although there is some variability in management approaches. The purpose of this case was to describe a management approach of a secondary colorenal fistula in this specific setting and, based on the existing literature, propose a treatment guideline.