Safety and Efficacy of Image-Guided Thermal Ablation in Treatment of Lung Metastasis in a Tertiary Center

Introduction: Malignant tumors have certain basic characteristics, metastasis is one of them and is the main factor for treatment failure and death. The lungs are the second most common site of metastasis. Thermal ablation appears as a tool in the management of these secondary pulmonary lesions.

Method(s): All the patients who were treated with thermal ablation for lung metastases between March 2005 to December 2019 are included in the study. In our institute, the decision to treat metastatic lung lesions is taken in a multidisciplinary tumor board meeting with the consensus of all treating clinicians. A total of 72 patients were treated with lung ablation, out of which 34 have colorectal primary, whereas 36 had sarcoma as the primary tumor. Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data was performed.

Result(s): Oncological outcomes such as local tumor control, survival data, and complications were assessed. The technical success rate was 97%. Major complications including significant pneumothorax and hemothorax requiring chest tube insertion were <2%. Minor complications like minimal pneumothorax, pleural effusion, etc. occur.

Conclusion(s): Thermal ablation is an effective therapy for lung metastases that controls disease while preserving adjacent normal lung with acceptable complications rate.

Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2023