Bronchopleural fistula after radiofrequency ablation of lung tumours.
The present article describes two cases of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) occurring after radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors. Both procedures were carried out using expandable multitined electrodes, with no coagulation of the needle track. After both ablations, ground-glass opacities encompassed the nodules and abutted the visceral pleura. The first patient had a delayed pneumothorax, and the second had a recurrent pneumothorax. Both cases of BPF were diagnosed on follow-up computed tomography chest scans (i.e., visibility of a distinct channel between the lung or a peripheral bronchus and the pleura) and were successfully treated with chest tubes alone. Our goal is to highlight the fact that BPF can occur without needle-track coagulation and to suggest that minimally invasive treatment is sufficient to cure BPFs of this specific origin.
Department of Interventional Radiology, Institut Bergonié, Regional Cancer Center, 229 cours de l'Argonne, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
Mathieu
M
Cannella
François
F
Cornelis
Edouard
E
Descat
Stéphane
S
Ferron
Thibault
T
Carteret
Hugues
H
Castagnède
Jean
J
Palussière
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D015505:Chest Tubes; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed