Purpose
Only 15% of patients with lung cancer can be treated by surgery either for associated illness or because advanced disease. In these paper we report our experience in treatment of such a disease using RF thermoablation
Material and methods
Since september 2004 to February 2006 we treated 13 neoplasm in 12 patients with lung cancer. Patients couldn’t be treated by surgery for extension of the disease (1) or for high risk at surgery. Ablation was performed in general anesthesia. Electrode was inserted using CT control. We used Le Veen probe in 10 patients and Cool-tip electrode in two. Follow up was effectuated at day 2 or 3, at one month and every six month using multislice CT.
Results
At follow-up (1-18 monts) two patients died. One for progression of the disease 5 monts after treatment. One for cardiac problems 15 months after treatment. One patient sufferred of disease progression (bone metastasis) after eight months,pulmonary lesion is reduced in size. Dimensional increase of pulmonary treated lesion was observed in two patients. Treatment has been well tolerated by all patients. PNX was observed in one patient at the beginning of the procedure and in 3 patients at the end. Two PNX have been drained. One pz suffered of cardiac enzyme elevation at discharge four days after treatment). One lung cavitation, without simtomps was observed at early CT(day two).
Conclusion
RF ablation is a promising treatment in patient with non resectable lung cancer. It can be safely used even in patients in poor conditions for associated illness.