Intraoperative hyperthermic tissue ablation in pulmonary metastases: a case report

The surgical removal of lung metastases is controversial: some authors have reported good results in terms of prognosis and disease-free interval in patients affected by multiple metastases. Recently, percutaneous hyperthermic tissue ablation (HTA) has been used under CT guidance in solitary peripheral pulmonary tumors attached or close to the parietal pleura.

We report the first intraoperative HTA of a lung metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, which might pave the way for possible future application of the procedure in patients with multiple pulmonary metastases. A 64-year-old patient affected by a rectal cancer was treated by abdominal perineal amputation followed by two lines of chemotherapy. After two years two lesions appeared in the lower left pulmonary lobe and another in the lower right lobe. The patient was monitored by three-monthly thoracic and abdominal CT. The lesions were stable for one year, but in the last two months one of the suspected metastases in the left lung increased from 1 to 2 cm. This was an indication for surgical removal. A mini posterolateral thoracotomy was performed. Thanks to complete collapse of the lung with manual squeezing of the parenchyma, ultrasonography provided satisfactory visualization of the two lesions. A frozen biopsy of the larger lesion was obtained which confirmed its metastatic nature. Ultrasound-guided HTA of the larger metastasis (2 cm) was performed. Final US demonstrated the change in the metastatic pattern. The two lesions were eventually removed by wedge resection using a TA 90 stapler. Histological examination of the two lesions confirmed the coagulative necrosis of the treated metastasis. No morbidity or pulmonary problems were recorded.