title: A phase II study of radiofrequency ablation therapy for thoracic malignancies with evaluation by FDG-PET.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is safe and effective for patients with unresectable primary, recurrent, or metastatic thoracic malignancies. Several studies have shown the benefit of employing 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) to follow thoracic malignancies treated with RFA. In this prospective study, we show the safety and therapeutic efficacy of RFA and the utility of FDG-PET as tool for early detection of local recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients were enrolled in this study, and 24 lesions were ablated. Seven lesions were primary lung cancer, and 17 lesions were recurrent tumors or metastases from extrathoracic sites. Tumor size was in the range of 0.4-3.3 cm in diameter (mean: 1.5 cm). CT and FDG-PET scans were scheduled 7-14 days and 3-6 months after RFA treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 17 adverse events (70.8 %) in 24 ablations included 13 pneumothoraces, two cases of chest pain, and two episodes of fever. With a median follow-up of 35.9 months (range 1-62 months), the overall 2-year survival rate was 84.2 %. Local recurrence occurred at four sites (2-year local control rate was 74.3 %). The FDG-PET results 7-14 days after RFA did not predict recurrence, whereas positive findings 3-6 months after RFA significantly correlated with local recurrence (p = 0.0016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed the effectiveness of RFA for unresectable primary and secondary thoracic malignancies. FDG-PET analysis 3-6 months after ablation is a useful tool to assess local control.
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1-Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan, higuchi@fmu.ac.jp.
authors: Mitsunori
authors: M
authors: Higuchi
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Honjo
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Shigihara
authors: Fumio
authors: F
authors: Shishido
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Suzuki
authors: Mitsukazu
authors: M
authors: Gotoh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18