Robotic navigation-assisted radio-frequency ablation of lung tumors: a pilot study

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of lung tumors under the guidance of robotic navigation system.

From January 2022 to December 2023, 62 cases with solitary lung tumors who underwent RFA procedure at our department and were divided into two groups: the robotic navigation assisted puncture (RNAP) group (n = 26) and manual puncture (MP) group (n = 36). Two groups were compared in terms of technical success (TS), puncture scoring (PS), CT scan times, Total procedure time (TPT), puncture time (PT), radiation exposure (RE), complete ablation (CA) rate and local tumor progression rate (LTP) rate.

PS, PT, total number of CT scans, and RE showed significance between patients in the RNAP compared to those in the MP group (15/8/2/1 vs. 6/8/18/4, P = <0.001; 13.71 min vs. 16.97 mins, P < 0.01; 4.57 vs 6.94, P < 0.01; 2215.38 vs. 4615 mGy.cm, P < 0.01). TS, TPT, major complications, CA rate and LTP rate showed no difference (100 % vs.100 %; 40.52 min vs. 42.53 min; 11.53 % vs. 11.11 %; 88.46 % vs. 86.11 %; 11.53 % % vs. 13.88 %; respectively, and all P > 0.05).

Robotic navigation-assisted radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors is a feasible and safe technique. It can minimize needle adjustments, thereby shortening puncture time and reducing radiation exposure for patients.