title: Preliminary Results in Unresectable Head and Neck Cancer Treated by Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation: Feasibility, Efficacy, and Safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively determine whether the application of thermal ablation to recurrent and advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) could allow for local tumor control.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2002 to 2014, 22 patients (17 men and 5 women; mean age, 64 y; age range, 42-88 y) with unresectable HNC lesions treated with thermal ablation were evaluated. Patients were followed at 3 and 6 months after treatment, every 6 months for 5 years, and yearly thereafter with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The mean follow-up period was 32.2 months (range, 3-51 mo).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three of 22 patients with primary lesions are still alive; two of these patients were treated with radiofrequency (RF) ablation and one was treated with microwave (MW) ablation. Of the 19 remaining patients, four were treated with MW ablation and 15 were treated with RF ablation. Imaging revealed partial response in eight patients, and complete response was observed in the remaining 14. There were two major complications after ablation treatment. The mean survival time was 32.9 months ± 3.205 (standard error; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26.6-39.2 mo). The survival time for MW ablation cases (36 mo ± 5.185; 95% CI, 25.8-46.16 mo) was longer than for RF ablation (32.2 mo ± 3.911; 95% CI, 24.5-39.8 mo), although the CI overlap between the groups is large.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous thermal ablation is a promising alternative treatment for local control of incurable HNC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara" Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: mariapaolabelfiore@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Belfiore
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Science, "A. Gemelli" Hospital-Catholic University, Rome.
authors.forename: Mariacarmela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sciandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Physics, "F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara" Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Science, "A. Gemelli" Hospital-Catholic University, Rome.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tartaglione
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Lucia
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Della Volpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buonomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara" Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappabianca
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara" Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belfiore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome