Enhancing precision in lung tumor ablation through innovations in CT-guided technique and angle control

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Interventional Radiology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Image-guided lung percutaneous thermal ablation (LPTA) is used for lung tumors.
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are key LPTA methods.
• An innovative angle reference guide was employed to enhance LPTA precision and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the precision and safety of image-guided LPTA using an angle reference guide.
• To assess the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) for lung tumors.
• To identify risk factors associated with complications in LPTA procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 202 patients undergoing LPTA with laser angle guide assembly (LAGA) between April 2011 and March 2021.
• Analysis included patient demographics, tumor characteristics, procedure details, and complications.
• Logistic regression models were used to determine risk factors for complications.

Main Results:

• A total of 375 lung tumors were treated in 275 sessions across 495 ablations, with RFA being the most common method.
• Most ablations were performed in the prone position, with a median lesion depth of 39.3 mm; 91.9% required a single puncture.
• Complications occurred in 31.0% of ablations, most commonly pneumothorax (18.3%) and pain (12.5%). Smoking/COPD was a significant risk factor for complications.

Conclusions:

• LAGA-assisted LPTA enhances safety and accuracy in treating lung tumors.
• The study contributes to refining thermal ablation techniques for lung cancer.
• Identifying risk factors like smoking/COPD can help improve patient selection and procedural safety.