[Thermal ablation: tolerance and efficacy in a population mostly composed of primary lung cancers].
OBJECTIVE
Radiofrequency thermal ablation (TA) of lung tumors currently is considered an alternative to surgical management for early primary lung cancers and non-surgical lung metastases. The purpose of this study was to determine the tolerability and efficacy of this treatment in 29 consecutive patients, most of which with primary lung cancers, managed in our center.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with 32 lung tumors less than 35 mm in diameter underwent radiofrequency thermal ablation between May 2004 and July 2008. The CT examinations performed during and after the ablation were reviewed to determine lesion characteristics, complications, treatment, local recurrence rate and survival rate.


RESULTS
Sixty-nine percent of our population consisted of primary lung cancer. The incidence of pneumothorax was 72% with 10% requiring drainage. The rate of complete response was 81%. The survival rate at 1 year was 79%.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiofrequency thermal ablation of lung tumors is a minimally invasive technique with high rate of complete response. It can be considered in non-surgical patients with primary or metastatic lung tumors less than 35 mm in diameter.
Chamming's
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F
Service de radiologie générale CHU Rangueil, avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhes, Toulouse cedex, France. echammings@yahoo.fr
Lévèque
N
N
Mazières
J
J
Auriol
J
J
Otal
P
P
Rousseau
H
H
Chabbert
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*