Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In recent years, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been increasingly utilized as a non-surgical treatment option for patients with primary and metastatic lung tumors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and therapeutic effects of RFA among patients with pulmonary neoplasms. METHODS: Patients with lung tumors treated with RFA from October 1999 to July 2006 in this hospital were enrolled into the study. A total of 329 cases, 237 primary lung tumors and 92 metastatic tumors, were retrospectively analyzed and evaluated for complications, local progression, and overall survival after one, two, and five years after RFA. RESULTS: The complications of RFA with surgery included 63 (19.1%) patients with pneumothorax, 14 (4.2%) with hemoptysis (one death), 10 (3.0%) with hemothorax, 15 (4.5%) with pneumonia, and three (0.9%) with pericardial tamponade (one death). The mortality within 30 days was 0.6%. Needle tract tumors were observed in 6 patients (1.8%). The median time for progression was 21.6 months. The overall survival rates at one, two, and five years after RFA were 68.2%, 35.3% and 20.1%, respectively. Up to 78 (23.7%) patients with tumors that exceed 4 cm developed local progression, and a significant difference was found. No significant difference was found among patients with tumors less than 3 cm and among those with 3 cm-4 cm tumors. CONCLUSION: RFA is a well-tolerated, reliable, and safe method for the treatment of lung malignancies.