[Two cases of pulmonary melanoma metastasis treated with radiofrequency: An alternative to surgical excision].
BACKGROUND
based on consensual recommendations, surgery remains the standard treatment for curable lung metastases. In this setting, radiofrequency ablation of limited metastases has been described in numerous studies in recent years. We report herein two patients presenting with low-burden lung metastases from malignant melanoma treated by radiofrequency.


METHODS
two patients presented with one to two limited burden lung metastases from malignant melanoma, respectively. Both patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy leading to disease stabilization, after which the lung metastases were treated by radiofrequency. Both patients had complete remission following radiofrequency, with 12 and 21 months follow-up respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
surgical treatment of solitary or scant pulmonary metastases from melanoma has proved its efficacy with a gain in overall and disease-free survival. Nevertheless, this treatment cannot be proposed in patients with contraindications for anaesthesia or compromised pulmonary function. In this population, radiofrequency ablation appears to offer a potentially valuable alternative to surgery. Additionally, the related morbidity and duration of hospitalisation associated with radiofrequency seemed to be improved. As seen in these two cases, the efficacy and increased survival achieved with radiofrequency appears comparable to those obtained through surgery.
Unité de Cancérologie Cutanée, Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Saint-André, 1, rue Jean-Burguet, 33075 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
L
L
Boursault
A
A
Scasso
H
H
Laumonier
N
N
Lalanne
J
J
Versapuech
A
A
Taieb
T
T
Jouary
D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed