title: Outcome after radiofrequency ablation of sarcoma lung metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Resection is the mainstay of management in patients with sarcoma lung metastases, but there is a limit to how many resections can be performed. Some patients with inoperable disease have small-volume lung metastases that are amenable to thermal ablation. We report our results after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of patients treated from 2007 to 2012 in whom the intention was to treat all sites of disease and who had a minimum CT follow-up of 4 months. Treatment was performed under general anesthesia/conscious sedation using cool-tip RFA. Follow-up CT scans were analyzed for local control. Primary tumor type, location, grade, disease-free interval, prior resection/chemotherapy, number and size of lung tumors, uni- or bilateral disease, complications, and overall and progression-free survival were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients [15 women; median age 48 (range 10-78) years] with 55 lung metastases were treated in 30 sessions. Mean and median tumor size and initial number were 0.9 cm and 0.7 (range 0.5-2) cm, and 2.5 and 1 (1-7) respectively. Median CT and clinical follow-up were 12 (4-54) and 20 (8-63) months, respectively. Primary local control rate was 52 of 55 (95 %). There were 2 of 30 (6.6 %) Common Terminology Criteria grade 3 complications with no long-term sequelae. Mean (median not reached) and 2- and 3-year overall survival were 51 months, and 94 and 85 %. Median and 1- and 2-year progression-free survival were 12 months, and 53 and 23 %. Prior disease-free interval was the only significant factor to affect overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA is a safe and effective treatment for patients with small-volume sarcoma metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, KH Barmherzige Schwestern Ried, Schlossberg 1, 4910, Ried im Innkreis, Austria, claus.koelblinger@bhs.at.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koelblinger
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011846:Radio Waves; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome