CT-guided Radiofrequency Ablation: a Potential Complementary Therapy for Patients with Unresectable Primary Lung Cancer--a Preliminary Report of 33 Patients

Objective: We report our preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness, safety, technical feasibility, and complications of palliative CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of unresectable primary pulmonary malignancies.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-three patients (26 men and seven women; age range, 44-75 years; mean age, 66 years) with unresectable malignant lung neoplasms underwent 35 CT-guided tumor ablation sessions. Follow-up CT was performed 6 months (29 cases) and 1 year (10 cases) after treatment. In 19 patients, these findings were correlated with cytohistopathologic assessment obtained with CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy or core biopsy at 6-month follow-up. Size and CT appearance of the treated lesions were correlated with cytohistologic features and clinical scores.

Results: Thirty-five technically successful radiofrequency ablation treatments were performed. The only complications in the periprocedural period were three cases of minor pneumothorax, five cases of sputum cruentum, and three asymptomatic pleural effusions. Contrast-enhanced CT performed at 6-month follow-up showed four cases of complete and 13 cases of partial lesion ablation, 11 cases of stabilized lesion size, and one case of increased lesion size. Contrast-enhanced CT performed at 1-year follow-up showed unchanged lesion size in six cases and reduction in four cases. Six-month cytohistologic examinations showed total coagulation necrosis in seven lesions and partial necrosis in 12. Clinical improvement in pretreatment symptoms was observed in 12 of 29 patients seen at 6-month follow-up. Eight patients died within 1 year of treatment of non-procedure-related causes.

Conclusion: Our experience suggests that radiofrequency ablation can be used successfully in unresectable lung cancer as an alternative or complementary treatment to radio- or chemotherapy. Larger studies are necessary to fully evaluate its potential combination with other treatment techniques.