title: Computed tomography-guided percutaneous microwave ablation treatment for lung metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for treating lung metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2012 to November 2014, 17 patients (15 males, and two females, averaged 45.7 years old) with lung metastases from NPC accepted computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous MWA. The average number of lung metastases was 1.7 (range: 1-4), and the biggest tumor diameter was 4.2 cm (range: 0.8-4.2 cm). Nineteen nodules located in the right lung and 10 nodules located in the left lung. A total of 29 ablation sites were performed to 29 lung metastases in 22 MWA sessions. Postoperative assessments of complete tumor necrosis rate, safety, local tumor progression, and survival period were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 29 lesions, complete response was achieved for 27 lesions; residual tumor was found in one lesion 3 months postoperatively; and another lesion was found enlarged 3-month postoperatively with obvious enhancement. Four patients had a small amount of postoperative parenchyma bleeding and two patients had a small amount of pneumothorax. Six months after MWA treatment, new metastatic lesions appeared in six patients, five patients had new metastatic lesions inside the lung, and the other patient had metastatic lesions in the thoracic vertebra. The time for the appearance of new pulmonary metastases for the five patients was 4-20 months, averaged 7.2 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided MWA is a promising treatment alternative for local tumor control in selected patients with lung metastases from NPC.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Image-guided Minimally Invasive Therapy, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South , Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult