title: Effect of CT fluoroscopy-guided transpulmonary radiofrequency ablation of liver tumours on the lung.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively evaluated the effect of transpulmonary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver tumours on the lung.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 patients (10 males and 6 females; mean age, 65.2 years) with 16 liver tumours (mean diameter 1.5 cm) underwent transpulmonary RFA under CT fluoroscopic guidance. The tumours were either hepatocellular carcinoma (n=14) or liver metastasis (n=12). All 16 liver tumours were undetectable with ultrasonography. The pulmonary function values at 3 months after transpulmonary RFA were compared with baseline (i.e. values before RFA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 8 of 16 sessions, minor pulmonary complications occurred, including small pneumothorax (n=8) and small pleural effusion (n=1). In two sessions, major pulmonary complications occurred, including pneumothorax requiring a chest tube (n=2). These chest tubes were removed at 4 and 6 days, and these patients were discharged 7 and 10 days after RFA, respectively, without any sequelae. The pulmonary function values we evaluated were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0) and vital capacity (VC). The mean values of FEV1.0 before and 3 months after RFA were 2.55 l and 2.59 l, respectively; the mean values of VC before and 3 months after RFA were 3.20 l and 3.27 l, respectively. These pulmonary values did not show any significant worsening (p=0.393 and 0.255 for FEV1.0 and VC, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant lung injury causing a fatal or intractable complication after transpulmonary RFA of liver tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Fukuyama City Hospital, Fukuyama, Japan. iguchi@ba2.sonet.ne.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yabushita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatsukawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000528:radiation effects