title: Radiofrequency ablation for lung tumors: outcomes, effects on survival, and prognostic factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the survival benefit achieved with radiofrequency (RF) ablation of primary and metastatic lung tumors and determine significant prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with lung cancer (10 primary and 39 metastatic) underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous RF ablation between June 2005 and October 2013. A total of 112 tumors (101 metastatic and 11 primary non-small cell lung cancer) were treated with RF ablation. Tumor diameter ranged from 0.6 to 4 cm (median 1.5 cm). Effectiveness of treatment, complications, and survival were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary success rate was 79.5% and local tumor progression occurred in 23 tumors. Among tumors showing progression, 10 were re-treated with RF ablation and secondary success rate was 87.5%. One-, two-, and three-year overall survival rates of 10 patients with primary lung cancer were 100%, 86%, and 43%, respectively. One-, two-, three-, four-, and five-year overall survival rates for 39 patients with metastatic lung tumors were 90%, 73%, 59%, 55%, and 38%, respectively. One-, two-, three-, and four-year overall survival rates for 16 patients with colorectal pulmonary metastases were 94%, 80%, 68%, and 23%, respectively. Complications occurred in 30 sessions (24.6%). Pneumothorax occurred in 19 sessions with seven requiring image-guided percutaneous chest tube drainage. Tumor status (solitary or multiple) and presence of extrapulmonary metastasis at initial RF ablation were significant prognostic factors in terms of recurrence-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RF ablation is a safe and effective treatment with a survival benefit for selected patients with primary and secondary lung tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. akhano@tr.net.
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akhan
authors.forename: Ezgi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: Devrim
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akıncı
authors.forename: Türkmen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Çiftçi
authors.forename: Ilgaz Çağatay
authors.initials: IÇ
authors.lastname: Köse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult