[Radiofrequency ablation of malignant lung tumors--preliminary report of 12 cases]

Percutaneous CT fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was performed in 12 patients with 4 primary and 8 metastatic lung cancers as a pilot study. The main complication was a pneumothorax, which occurred in six cases and 2 of them required a chest tube drainage. Four patients died of extrapulmonary tumor progression at 3-17 months after RFA. The remaining 8 patients were alive with the disease and their median follow-up period was 12 months (range, 6-39 months). An overall survival rate was 75% at 6 months, 63% at 1 year and 43% at 2 years. A local progression occurred in 4 cases at 4-17 months after RFA and the cause of relapse was considered as insufficient ablation due to tumor localization close to the trachea, SVC or intrapulmonary vessels and bronchi. A local control rate was 92% at 6 months, 64% at 1 year and 35% at 2 years.

RFA of lung tumors is a safe and minimally invasive therapeutic intervention with a good local control for sufficiently ablated lesions. So it appears to be a favorable treatment option for high-risk patients or those with multiple lesions.