Radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors

Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer-related mortality throughout the world. Only 25% of patients are diagnosed early and are candidates for surgical resection with curative intent. Many early-stage patients are medically inoperable owing to comorbidities. For these patients, and for selected patients with pulmonary metastases, radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive therapeutic alternative. Radiofrequency ablation can be performed percutaneously, under conscious sedation, and as an outpatient or with a short hospital stay. Outcomes are similar or even superior to those obtained with more aggressive procedures, with lower complication rates. Human studies describing the feasibility, safety, and outcomes of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of primary and secondary lung malignancies are the focus of this article.