title: Tumour characteristics and therapeutic results after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of secondary lung neoplasms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective was to assess the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of secondary lung tumours and evaluation of the treatment's results by contrast-enhanced CT scan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen secondary lung neoplasms in 10 patients (mean age 64.3 years) had pulmonary radiofrequency and imaging follow-up. All the patients had absolute contraindications to the surgery. The procedure was performed under computed tomography (CT) guidance with anaesthesiologic assistance. The results were evaluated by post-procedural contrast-enhanced CT scan and CT scans 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up period was 26 months. A complete ablation according to the absence of enhancement after the procedure was obtained in all cases; pleural effusion was seen in 2 patients. The main adverse event was a pneumothorax, which occurred in 4 cases. A chest tube was required in two cases. A recurrence at the site of the treatment for one lesion was observed during a 12-month follow- up period. Three patients experienced systemic disease progression. In one of these 3 patients, this progression was associated with recurrence at the site of the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA seems to be possible for "non-surgical" patients with various histologic types of secondary lung tumours. Good results in terms of local tumour control validated by contrast-enhanced CT scan were observed during short-term follow-up evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie, CHU Charleroi (Vésale), 706 6110 Montigny le Tilleul, France. didier.dequanter@pandora.be
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dequanter
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lothaire
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D000075202:Contraindications; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome