Radiofrequency ablation of lung cancer

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been accepted as a treatment option for lung cancer. Techniques for lung RFA are similar to those used for percutaneous lung biopsy. The most common complication is pneumothorax. Minor but serious complications include massive hemorrhage, intractable pneumothorax, pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm, systemic air embolism, pneumonitis, injury of the nearby tissues, and needle-tract seeding. Local efficacy of lung RFA depends on tumor size. Survival data after RFA are promising for patients with early-stage primary lung cancer and metastasis from various primary lesions.