title: Radiofrequency ablation for single lung tumours not suitable for surgery: seven years' experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was done to review recurrence patterns in patients with lung cancer (primary or secondary) treated with percutaneous image-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2003 to August 2010, 32 patients (24 with primary non-small-cell lung cancer and eight with metastases) with single lung cancer were treated with RF ablation. Post-treatment imaging results were available for each patient. Follow-up was performed using computed tomography (CT) scans at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the procedure and annually thereafter. Patterns of recurrence were classified as local, intrapulmonary, nodal, mixed and distant. We evaluated overall survival after RF ablation and the factors associated with recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen (53.1%) patients showed no evidence of recurrence at follow-up imaging (range 12-72 months; mean, 32.5 months). Recurrence was seen in 15 (46.9 %) patients (range 6-36 months; mean 14.8 months). Local recurrence (40%) after RF ablation was the most frequent. Median disease-free survival was 20 months. Sex, tumour location, tumour size and tumour stage were not associated with a risk of recurrence. Patient age was related to the risk of recurrence (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local recurrence is the most common pattern in our series. A more aggressive initial RF ablation might offer improvement in outcomes, but this hypothesis needs to be confirmed by larger studies involving a larger number of patients.
authors: Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Insubria University, Viale Borri 57, 21100, Varese, Italy. gcarraf@tin.it
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Carrafiello
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Mangini
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Fontana
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Laganà
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Cotta
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Di Massa
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Piacentino
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ianniello
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Floridi
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Ierardi
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Fugazzola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003287:Contrast Media; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; C044834:iodixanol