Recurrent non-small cell lung cancer: evaluation of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation as salvage therapy.

TitleRecurrent non-small cell lung cancer: evaluation of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation as salvage therapy.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsSchoellnast H, Deodhar A, Hsu M, Moskowitz C, Nehmeh SA, Thornton RH, Sofocleous CT, Alago W, Downey RJ, Azzoli CG, Rosenzweig KE, Solomon SB
JournalActa Radiol
Volume53
Issue8
Pagination893-9
Date Published2012 Oct 01
ISSN1600-0455
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Catheter Ablation, Disease Progression, Disease-Free Survival, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Length of Stay, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Retrospective Studies, Surgery, Computer-Assisted, Survival Rate, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Treatment Outcome
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a potential application as a salvage tool after failure of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although several studies have evaluated the use of RFA in primary NSCLC, there is little literature on its potential application as a salvage tool.

PURPOSE: To evaluate CT-guided RFA employed as a salvage therapy for pulmonary recurrences of NSCLC after prior treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective computer database search yielded 33 patients with biopsy proven primary NSCLC who underwent CT-guided RFA of 39 recurrent tumors following surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. Follow-up imaging was performed with CT and PET-CT. The endpoints of interest were progression-free survival (PFS) and time to local progression (TTLP). PFS and TTLP were compared by lesion size (<3 cm, ≥3 cm).

RESULTS: The median PFS was 8 months. For patients with a tumor size <3 cm median PFS was 11 months, whereas the median PFS of patients with a tumor size ≥3 cm was 5 months. The difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.09). The median TTLP of all tumors was 14 months. TTLP of ablated tumors <3 cm in size was 24 months, compared to 8 months for ablated tumors ≥3 cm in size. The difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.07).

CONCLUSION: RFA of recurrent NSCLC may be a valuable salvage tool to achieve local tumor control, especially in tumors measuring <3 cm in size.

DOI10.1258/ar.2012.110333
Alternate JournalActa Radiol
PubMed ID22961644

Weill Cornell Medicine
Department of Radiology
525 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065