title: Radiofrequency ablation for early-stage nonsmall cell lung cancer.
abstract: This review examines studies of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and discusses the role of RFA in treatment of early-stage NSCLC. RFA is usually performed under local anesthesia with computed tomography guidance. RFA-associated mortality, while being rare, can result from pulmonary events. RFA causes pneumothorax in up to 63% of cases, although pneumothorax requiring chest drainage occurs in less than 15% of procedures. Other severe complications are rare. After RFA of stage I NSCLC, 31-42% of patients show local progression. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates after RFA of stage I NSCLC were 78% to 100%, 53% to 86%, 36% to 88%, and 25% to 61%, respectively. The median survival time ranged from 29 to 67 months. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year cancer-specific survival rates after RFA of stage I NSCLC were 89% to 100%, 92% to 93%, and 59% to 88%, respectively. RFA has a higher local failure rate than sublobar resection and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Therefore, RFA may currently be reserved for early-stage NSCLC patients who are unfit for sublobar resection or SBRT. Various technologies are being developed to improve clinical outcomes of RFA for early-stage NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gobara
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9763-6173
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016634:Radiosurgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed