Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer: midterm results in 27 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively evaluate the midterm outcomes (eg, safety, local efficacy, and survival) after radiofrequency (RF) ablation for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients (19 men and eight women; mean age, 61.6 years) with 49 pulmonary metastases (mean long axis diameter, 1.5 cm) from colorectal cancer underwent 41 percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided RF ablation sessions. Follow-up examinations were performed with CT by using contrast medium administration in all patients; positron emission tomography was performed in five patients. The safety of the procedure, local tumor control, and patient survival were evaluated. Multiple variables were analyzed to determine prognostic factors.


RESULTS
Pneumothorax occurred after 20 of the 41 sessions (49%), three of which necessitated chest tube placement. A small pleural effusion was found after six of the 41 sessions (15%). No major hemorrhagic event was observed. None of the patients died due to the procedure. The median follow-up period was 20.1 months (range, 11.2-47.7 months). The primary and secondary technique effectiveness rates were 72% and 85%, respectively, at 1 year, 56% and 62% at 2 years, and 56% and 62% at 3 years. The overall survival rates after RF ablation were 96% at 1 year, 54% at 2 years, and 48% at 3 years. The presence of extrapulmonary metastasis was determined to be a prognostic factor (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The midterm outcomes of percutaneous RF ablation for colorectal pulmonary metastases appear promising. The presence of extrapulmonary metastasis had an adverse effect on survival after RF ablation.
Hiraki
Takao
T
Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. takaoh@ic4.so-net.ne.jp
Gobara
Hideo
H
Iishi
Tatsuhiko
T
Sano
Yoshifumi
Y
Iguchi
Toshihiro
T
Fujiwara
Hiroyasu
H
Tajiri
Nobuhisa
N
Sakurai
Jun
J
Date
Hiroshi
H
Mimura
Hidefumi
H
Kanazawa
Susumu
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome