On January 17, 2026 Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria has made history by performing the first cryoablation procedure in South Africa’s public health sector. This cutting-edge treatment uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue, including cancer, and offers a precise and patient-friendly alternative to conventional surgery.
A multidisciplinary team of specialists, led by Professor Zarina Lockhart, Head of Radiology, and Professor Kgomotso Mathabe, Head of Urology, successfully performed the procedure. The team included Prof. Van Der Walt, Dr. Rodney Maseko, and Dr. Riaan Potgieter, who are all specialist radiologists, as well as Dr. Guy Gaudji and Dr. Raymond Campbell, who are urologists. Together, they worked tirelessly to insert thin probes into the target tissue and freeze the abnormal cells, showcasing their expertise and skill in this complex procedure.
The cryoablation procedure involves the percutaneous insertion of thin probes into the target tissue under image guidance, typically using CT or ultrasound. Once correctly positioned, the probes release bursts of argon gas that rapidly lower temperatures to below –40°C, forming a clearly visible “ice ball” that envelops and destroys abnormal cells while sparing surrounding healthy structures. The ability to visualise the treatment zone in real time allows clinicians to achieve exceptional accuracy, particularly when lesions are located near critical organs or blood vessels.
Cryoablation offers numerous benefits, including reduced pain, minimal blood loss, and faster recovery times, making it an ideal treatment option for patients, especially in resource-constrained public healthcare settings. Compared with open surgery, cryoablation offers substantial benefits for patients, like shorter hospital stays, and reduced complications.
The procedure also showcased global collaboration, with Dr. Matthias Feurstner (MD, EBIR-IO, EMBA), an experienced interventional radiologist based in Austria, guiding the local team remotely through real-time virtual supervision. Dr. Potgieter wore Google Smart Glasses, enabling live visual communication with the off-site proctor, an advanced application of digital health technology that underscores the growing role of global collaboration in modern medicine.
Hospital leadership has described the achievement as a testament to the skill, dedication, and forward-thinking mind-set of the clinical teams involved. It also reflects sustained strategic investment by the Gauteng Department of Health in high-impact technologies that expand access to world-class care within the public sector.
Beyond the walls of Steve Biko Academic Hospital, the successful introduction of cryoablation carries broader significance. It signals a shift towards more equitable access to cutting-edge treatments traditionally limited to private healthcare, and reinforces the role of academic public hospitals as drivers of innovation, training, and research. As South Africa’s public health system continues to confront complex disease burdens and resource constraints, milestones such as this demonstrate how targeted investment, multidisciplinary expertise, and intelligent use of technology can translate into tangible improvements in patient care.
