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A comparative analysis of thermal ablation techniques in the treatment of primary and secondary lung tumors: a single-center experience

  • Chest Radiology
  • Published:
La radiologia medica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) in unresectable lung malignancies.

Methods

Data regarding patients with primary and secondary lung tumors treated with RFA or MWA from 2008 to 2020 were reviewed retrospectively.

Primary study objectives such as technical success, primary and secondary technique efficacy rates, local tumor progression (LTP) rate, LPT-free survival (LPTFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Secondary study objectives were side effects and complications. RFA and MWA were compared using the Chi-square test for continuous variables. Kaplan–Meier curves were calculated for survival statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 113 patients with primary or secondary lung tumor underwent 74 RFA (48%) and 81 MWA (52%). Technical success rate was 151/155 (97%); primary and secondary technique efficacy rates were 123/155 (79%) and 129/155 (83%), respectively. During the entire study follow-up, 32 cases experienced disease progression (20%), of which 18 underwent repeat ablation (12%), in 6 cases with success (4%). Residual unablated tumor happened in 4/155 cases (3%). LTP occurred in 28/155 cases (17%). The only factor associated with poorer LTP-FS was lesion diameter ≥ 30 mm (P < 0.05). One-, 3- and 5-years LTP-FS was 83%, 82%, 82%, respectively. One-, 3- and 5-years OS of the entire population was 87%, 74%, 73%, respectively. Minor and major complication rates were 53/155 (34%) and 29/155 (19%), respectively.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this study confirms the appropriateness of RFA and MWA for lung tumors treatment, in terms of safety and efficacy.

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Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Interventional Radiology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy

    Rosario Francesco Grasso, Caterina Bernetti, Giuseppina Pacella, Carlo Altomare, Gennaro Castiello, Flavio Andresciani, Marina Sarli, Bruno Beomonte Zobel & Eliodoro Faiella

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  1. Rosario Francesco Grasso
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  2. Caterina Bernetti
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  3. Giuseppina Pacella
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  4. Carlo Altomare
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  5. Gennaro Castiello
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  6. Flavio Andresciani
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  7. Marina Sarli
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  8. Bruno Beomonte Zobel
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  9. Eliodoro Faiella
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Correspondence to Rosario Francesco Grasso.

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Ethical approval

Ethical approval was waived by the local Ethics Committee of University Campus Biomedico di Roma in view of the retrospective nature of the study.

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This retrospective chart review study involving human participants was in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed written consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Grasso, R.F., Bernetti, C., Pacella, G. et al. A comparative analysis of thermal ablation techniques in the treatment of primary and secondary lung tumors: a single-center experience. Radiol med 127, 714–724 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-022-01508-2

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