To evaluate oncologic outcomes after microwave ablation (MWA) of colorectal pulmonary metastases, with focus on disease control without chemotherapy.

This institutional review board-approved retrospective study examined patients with oligometastatic or oligoprogressive colorectal pulmonary metastases undergoing MWA between January 2011 and December 2021. Imaging response was assessed with CT at 4-8 weeks post-MWA, with subsequent cross-sectional follow-up imaging every 2-4 months. Local tumor progression-free survival (LTPFS), chemotherapy-free survival (CFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier methodology. Variables were evaluated for predictive significance using the log-rank test and Cox regression.

Two hundred twenty-five patients (127 male, 98 female; median age: 55 years) with 720 pulmonary metastases underwent 400 MWA sessions (mean number of treated metastases per session: 1.8; range 1-9). Mean treated tumor size was 0.9 cm. LTPFS at 1, 2 and 3-years was 91.9%, 85.9% and 81.5%, respectively. Tumors ≥ 1 cm in size, pleural-based tumors and pre-MWA carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels ≥ 10 ng/mL were associated with shorter LTPFS (all P < 0.001). 74.7% (168/225) of patients did not receive chemotherapy for at least two months after the initial MWA. Median CFS was 12 months (95% CI 7.8-16.2) and was significantly prolonged in patients with lung-only disease compared to those with concurrent extrapulmonary disease (34.4 vs. 4.0 months, P < 0.001). Median OS was 47 months (95% CI 36.7-57.3).

MWA of colorectal pulmonary metastases is associated with high local tumor control rates and can offer prolonged CFS, particularly for patients without concurrent extrapulmonary disease.

Recently, the incidence of multiple pulmonary nodules (MPNs) is gradually rising. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for patients with MPNs.

The clinicopathological data and perioperative results of the patients with MPNs who underwent RFA combined with VATS at our center from October 2022 to September 2024 were reviewed. The primary endpoints were the safety and feasibility of this combined technique.

A total of 105 patients were enrolled in this study, including 30 males and 75 females with a mean age of 55.1 years. In total, 293 lesions were treated, 113 of which were ablated and 180 were surgically resected. The mean nodule size was 6.58 mm for ablated nodules and 10.3 mm for resected nodules. Of the 113 nodules treated using RFA, 112 were ground-glass nodules. The median ablation time and power of RFA were 5 min and 60 W, respectively. Of the 180 surgically resected nodules, 169 had ground-glass opacity. Total postoperative complication morbidity was 9.5% (10/105), with major complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ 3) in 1.0% (1/105). No perioperative deaths occurred, and the median hospital stay was 5 days (range, 5-7 days). Notably, no recurrence has been observed in any patients during the short-term follow-up period.

Our study demonstrated that CT-guided RFA combined with VATS is a safe and feasible therapeutic technique for the patients with MPNs. Given the increasing incidence of MPNs, this combination strategy holds significant potential for clinical application.

The standard of care for early-stage NSCLC has historically been surgical resection. Given the association of lung cancer with smoking, a large number of early-stage patients also have active smoking-related medical comorbidities such as COPD precluding surgery. The current approach for treating such inoperable patients is frequently considered to be stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). SBRT (also known as stereotactic ablative radiation therapy or SABR) is a curative modality that precisely delivers very high dose radiation in few (typically <5) sessions. That said, because of their minimal invasiveness and repeatable nature, image-guided thermal ablation therapies such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), and cryoablation (CA) have also been used to treat early-stage lung tumors. For those patients deemed to have "high operative risk" (i.e., those who cannot tolerate lobectomy, but are candidates for sublobar resection), the appropriateness of potential alternatives [e.g., SBRT; ablation] to surgery is an active area of investigation. In the absence of completed randomized phase III trials, the approach to comparing outcomes between surgery, SBRT, or ablative therapies by their efficacy or equivalence is complex. An overview of the role of SBRT and other non-surgical modalities in the management of early-stage lung cancer is the subject of the present review.

A significant proportion of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are considered at high risk for complications or mortality after lobectomy. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) previously published an expert consensus document detailing important considerations in determining who is at high risk. The current objective was to evaluate treatment options and important factors to consider during treatment selection for these high-risk patients. After systematic review of the literature, treatment options for high-risk patients with stage I NSCLC were reviewed by an AATS expert panel. Expert consensus statements and vignettes pertaining to treatment selection were then developed using discussion and a modified Delphi method. The expert panel identified sublobar resection, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), and image-guided thermal ablation (IGTA) as modalities applicable in the treatment of high-risk patients with stage I NSCLC. The panel also identified lung-nodule-related factors that are important to consider in treatment selection. Using this information, the panel formulated 14 consensus statements and 5 vignettes illustrating clinical scenarios. This article summarizes important factors to consider in treatment selection using these modalities, which are applicable in high-risk patients with stage I NSCLC. The choice of which modality (sublobar resection, SABR, or IGTA) is optimal in high-risk patients with stage I NSCLC is complex, but a surgical approach is generally favored when deemed safe. SABR and IGTA are reasonable options in select patients. SABR is more commonly used than IGTA and is likely the next-best choice. A multi-disciplinary review of patient and tumor characteristics is essential for achieving an optimal decision. The clinical treatment decision should also take patient perspectives, preferences, and quality of life into consideration.

Image-guided thermal ablation (IGTA) applied to pulmonary pathology is an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Its application to lung neoplasm was first introduced in 2001 and has been implemented to treat metastatic disease to the lung or in select medically inoperable patients with peripheral stage I NSCLC. IGTA may also be an alternative to treat stage I NSCLC in non-operable patients with interstitial lung disease in whom a radiation modality is deemed too high risk. There are 3 methods of delivery: radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation and cryoablation. Observational series and some prospective trials have shown safety and efficacy across all three modalities. Despite accumulating experience, there are no large randomized clinical trials comparing the outcomes of lung IGTA to alternative locoregional therapies (eg, stereotactic body radiotherapy or sublobar pulmonary resection) for the treatment of stage I NSCLC. Because IGTA is a local therapy, a higher risk of locoregional recurrence is inherently understood as compared with anatomic resection. In the literature, primary tumor control after RFA ranges from 47 to 90% and is dependent on tumor size and proximity to bronchovascular structures. Local failure ranges from 10 to 47%, and tumors ≥3 cm have the highest rate of local recurrence. The most prevalent side effects are pneumothorax and reactive pleural effusion; hemorrhage is uncommon. Of note, observational series show no significant loss of lung function after IGTA. This expert review contextualizes limitations, complications and outcomes of IGTA in patients with stage I NSCLC.

The objective of this study was to measure the safety and efficacy of thermal ablation, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA), for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The databases PubMed was searched from inception to November 2023 to identify relevant studies. Statistical analyses were performed with R version 3. 6. 3.

Thirty-three studies involving 1400 patients were finally included. According to our study, the incidence of patients with stage I NSCLC who were older than 60 years old was 98 % (95 % CI [94-100 %]); the lesions were mostly located in RUL (Right Upper Lobe) and LUL (Left Upper Lobe), and the incidence of the two sites was 29 % (95 % CI [23-35 %]) and 27 % (95 % CI [21-33 %]), respectively; the types of lung cancers mainly included adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma, and large-cell lung cancer, of which adenocarcinoma accounted for the largest proportion of 63 % (95 % CI [56-70 %]); the causes of death were mainly categorized into cancer-related (57 %, 95 %CI[40-74 %]) and noncancer-related (40 %, 95 %CI [23-58 %]); the common complications in the postoperative period were pneumothorax and pain, with the incidence of 33 % (95 %CI[24-44 %]) and 33 % (95 %CI[19-50 %]), and the rate of the postoperative complications in MWA was slightly higher than those in RFA; the local recurrence rate was 23 % (95 %CI[17-29 %]) and the distant recurrence rate was 18 % (95 %CI[7-32 %]); the pooling result showed the rate of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate were 96 %, 81 %, 68 %, and 42 %, the Cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years were 98 %, 88 %, 75 %, and 58 %, Disease-free survival (DFS) rates at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years were 87 %, 63 %, 57 %, and 42 %, there were no significant differences existed between the RFA group and MWA group in survival rate, CSS and DFS.

Ablation therapy is safe and effective for stage I NSCLC patient. MWA and RFA have comparable efficacy, safety, and prognosis, which could be recommended for patients with stageⅠNSCLC, especially for patients who cannot tolerate open surgery.

Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are about five times more likely to develop lung cancer than those without ILD. The presence of ILD in lung cancer patients complicates diagnosis and management, resulting in lower survival rates. Diagnostic and treatment procedures needed for cancer can increase the risk of acute exacerbation (AE), one of the most severe complications for these patients. Bronchoscopic techniques are generally considered safe, but they can trigger AE-ILD, particularly after cryoprobe biopsies. Surgical procedures for lung cancer, including lung biopsies and resections, carry an elevated risk of AE-ILD. Postoperative complications and mortality rates highlight the importance of meticulous surgical planning and postoperative care. Furthermore, cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, are all burdened by a risk of AE-ILD occurrence. Radiotherapy is important for managing both early-stage and advanced lung cancer, but it also poses risks. Stereotactic body radiation and particle beam therapies have varying degrees of safety, with the latter potentially offering a lower risk of AE. Percutaneous ablation techniques can help patients who are not eligible for surgery. However, these procedures may complicate ILD, and their associated risks still need to be fully understood, necessitating further research for improved safety. Overall, while advancements in lung cancer treatment have improved outcomes for many patients, the complexity of managing patients with concomitant ILD needs careful consideration and multidisciplinary assessment. This review provides a detailed evaluation of these risks, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment approaches and monitoring to improve patient outcomes in this challenging population.

Microwave lung ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive and inexpensive alternative cancer treatment for patients who are not candidates for surgery/radiotherapy. However, a major challenge for MWA is its relatively high tumor recurrence rates, due to incomplete treatment as a result of inaccurate planning. We introduce a patient-specific, deep-learning model to accurately predict post-treatment ablation zones to aid planning and enable effective treatments.

Our IRB-approved retrospective study consisted of ablations with a single applicator/burn/vendor between 01/2015 and 01/2019. The input data included pre-procedure computerized tomography (CT), ablation power/time, and applicator position. The ground truth ablation zone was segmented from follow-up CT post-treatment. Novel deformable image registration optimized for ablation scans and an applicator-centric co-ordinate system for data analysis were applied. Our prediction model was based on the U-net architecture. The registrations were evaluated using target registration error (TRE) and predictions using Bland-Altman plots, Dice co-efficient, precision, and recall, compared against the applicator vendor's estimates.

The data included 113 unique ablations from 72 patients (median age 57, interquartile range (IQR) (49-67); 41 women). We obtained a TRE ≤ 2 mm on 52 ablations. Our prediction had no bias from ground truth ablation volumes (p = 0.169) unlike the vendor's estimate (p < 0.001) and had smaller limits of agreement (p < 0.001). An 11% improvement was achieved in the Dice score. The ability to account for patient-specific in-vivo anatomical effects due to vessels, chest wall, heart, lung boundaries, and fissures was shown.

We demonstrated a patient-specific deep-learning model to predict the ablation treatment effect prior to the procedure, with the potential for improved planning, achieving complete treatments, and reduce tumor recurrence.

Our method addresses the current lack of reliable tools to estimate ablation extents, required for ensuring successful ablation treatments. The potential clinical implications include improved treatment planning, ensuring complete treatments, and reducing tumor recurrence.

Imaging methods are fundamental tools to detect and diagnose lung diseases, monitor their treatment and detect possible complications. Each modality, starting from classical chest radiographs and computed tomography, as well as the ever more popular and easily available thoracic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine methods, and new techniques such as photon counting computed tomography, radiomics and application of artificial intelligence, has its strong and weak points, which we should be familiar with to properly choose between the methods and interpret their results. In this review, we present the indications, strengths and main limitations of methods for chest imaging.

This paper highlights developments in diagnostic and nonsurgical local treatment modalities that have changed the management of early-stage lung cancer. These innovations aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy, minimize invasiveness, and improve patient outcomes. Liquid biopsies are emerging as promising tools for non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring, enabling earlier intervention without being standardized yet as well as not yet anchored in the guidelines. Endobronchial navigation has emerged as an innovative tool. By combining electromagnetic or GPS-like technology with 3D imaging and a steerable catheter, it enables accurate biopsy of small, peripheral lesions that were once challenging to sample, with a very low pneumothorax rate. Regarding nonsurgical treatments, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) continues to shine as a non-invasive local treatment modality for early-stage lung cancer and is the guideline-recommended standard-of-care for inoperable patients and patients refusing the risk of surgical resection. The low toxicity and excellent local control has made it an attractive alternative to surgery even in fitter patients. Percutaneous ablative techniques utilising energies such as microwave or pulse-field electroporation are options for patients who are not candidates for surgery or SBRT. Bronchoscopic ablation delivers the same energies but with a very lower pneumothorax rate and it is therefore also open to patients with multiple and bilateral lesions.

To retrospectively investigate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation by analyzing results in patients with lung neoplasm accompanied by interstitial lung disease (ILD) on computed tomography (CT) in a multicenter study.

Patients with lung neoplasm accompanied by ILD who underwent RF ablation between April 2002 and October 2017 at 7 institutions were investigated. Technical success rate and local tumor progression (LTP) of ablated tumors were evaluated. Adverse events including acute exacerbation of ILD were also evaluated. Univariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with acute exacerbation.

Forty-nine patients with 64 lung neoplasms (mean diameter, 23 mm; range, 4-58 mm) treated in 66 sessions were included. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern on CT was identified in 23 patients (47%). All patients underwent successful RF ablation. Acute exacerbations were seen in 5 sessions (8%, 7% with UIP pattern and 8% without) in 5 patients, all occurring on or after 8 days (median, 12 days; range, 8-30 days). Three of those 5 patients died of acute exacerbation. Treatment resulted in mortality after 5% of sessions, representing 6% of patients. Pleural effusion and fever (temperature ≥ 38°C) after RF ablation were identified by univariate analysis (P = .001 and P = .02, respectively) as significant risk factors for acute exacerbation. The cumulative LTP rate was 43% at 1 year.

RF ablation appears feasible for patients with lung neoplasm complicated by ILD. Acute exacerbation occurred in 8% of patients with symptoms occurring more than 8 days after ablation and was associated with a 45% mortality rate.

Lung cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. There is evidence of a complex interplay between lung cancer and interstitial lung disease (ILD), affecting disease progression, management strategies, and patient outcomes. Both conditions develop as the result of common risk factors such as smoking, environmental exposures, and genetic predispositions. The presence of ILD poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in lung cancer management, including difficulties in interpreting radiological findings and increased susceptibility to treatment-related toxicities, such as acute exacerbation of ILD after surgery and pneumonitis after radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Moreover, due to the lack of large, phase III randomized controlled trials, the evidence-based therapeutic options for patients with ILDs and lung cancer remain limited. Antifibrotic treatment may help prevent pulmonary toxicity due to lung cancer treatment, but its effect is still unclear. Emerging diagnostic modalities and biomarkers and optimizing personalized treatment strategies are essential to improve outcomes in this patient population.

In this article, the multidisciplinary team of the Taiwan Academy of Tumor Ablation, who have expertise in treating lung cancer, present their perspectives on percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation (IGTA) of lung tumors. The modified Delphi technique was applied to reach a consensus on clinical practice guidelines concerning ablation procedures, including a comprehensive literature review, selection of panelists, creation of a rating form and survey, and arrangement of an in-person meeting where panelists agreed or disagreed on various points. The conclusion was a final rating and written summary of the agreement. The multidisciplinary expert team agreed on 10 recommendations for the use of IGTA in the lungs. These recommendations include terms and definitions, line of treatment planning, modality, facility rooms, patient anesthesia settings, indications, margin determination, post-ablation image surveillance, qualified centers, and complication ranges. In summary, IGTA is a safe and feasible approach for treating primary and metastatic lung tumors, with a relatively low complication rate. However, decisions regarding the ablation technique should consider each patient's specific tumor characteristics.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted in patients with clinical stage I NSCLC who underwent CT-guided MWA from Nov 2016 to Oct 2021. The patients were divided into the IPF group and the non-IPF group. The primary endpoints were 90-day adverse events and hospital length of stay (HLOS). The secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

A total of 107 patients (27 with IPF and 80 without IPF) were finally included for analysis. No procedure-related acute exacerbation of IPF or death occurred post-MWA. The rates of adverse events were similar between the groups (48.6% vs. 47.7%; p = 0.998). The incidence of grade 3 adverse events in the IPF group was higher than that in the non-IPF group without a significant difference (13.5% vs. 4.6%; p = 0.123). Median HLOS was 5 days in both groups without a significant difference (p = 0.078). The 1-year and 3-year OS were 85.2%/51.6% in the IPF group, and 97.5%/86.4% in the non-IPF group. The survival of patients with IPF was significantly poorer than the survival of patients without IPF (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference for PFS (p = 0.271).

MWA was feasible in the treatment of stage I NSCLC in patients with IPF. IPF had an adverse effect on the survival of stage I NSCLC treated with MWA.

CT-guided microwave ablation is a well-tolerated and effective potential alternative treatment for stage I non-small cell lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• Microwave ablation for stage I non-small cell lung cancer was well-tolerated without procedure-related acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and death in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. • No differences were observed in the incidence of adverse events between patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and those without idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis after microwave ablation (48.6% vs. 47.7%; p = 0.998). • The 1-year and 3-year overall survival rates (85.2%/51.6%) in the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis group were worse than those in the non- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis group (97.5%/86.4%) (p < 0.001).

Transbronchial microwave ablation in treating lung nodules is gaining popularity. However, microwave ablation in subpleural lung nodules raised concerns about pleural-based complications due to the proximity between the pleura and the ablation zone.

Patients who underwent transbronchial microwave ablation between March 2019 and November 2022 were included in this analysis. The lung nodules were categorized into the subpleural group-less than 5 mm distance to the nearest pleural surface; the deep nodule group-larger or equal to 5 mm distance to the nearest pleural surface. A review of the safety profile of subpleural lung nodule ablation was conducted.

Eighty-two lung nodules (n = 82) from 77 patients were treated. The mean nodule size was 14.2 ± 5.50 mm. The technical success rate was 100%. The mean procedural time was 133 min. No statistically significant differences were detected in the complication rate and the length of stay between the subpleural and deep nodule groups. Complications occured in 21 nodules (25.6%). No minor pneumothorax was reported. Total five cases of pneumothorax required drainage were observed (6.06% in subpleural nodules [n = 2] vs. 6.12% in deep nodules [n = 3], p = 0.991). Total seven cases of pleuritic chest pain were observed (12.1% in subpleural nodules [n = 4] vs. 6.12% in deep nodules [n = 3], p = 0.340).

This single-center retrospective analysis found no significant difference in the safety outcomes between subpleural and nonsubpleural lung nodule ablation. The overall rate of complications was low in the cohort. This demonstrated that transbronchial microwave was feasible and safe for most lung nodules.

This study aimed to describe lesion-specific management of thoracic tumors referred for consideration of image-guided thermal ablation (IGTA) at a newly established multidisciplinary ablation conference.

This retrospective single-center cohort study included consecutive patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or thoracic metastases evaluated from June 2020 to January 2022 in a multidisciplinary conference. Outcomes included the management recommendation, treatments received (IGTA, surgical resection, stereotactic body radiation therapy [SBRT], multimodality management), and number of tumors treated per patient. Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess for a change in management, and Poisson regression was used to compare the number of tumors by treatment received.

The study included 172 patients (58 % female; median age, 69 years; 56 % thoracic metastases; 27 % multifocal primary lung cancer; 59 % ECOG 0 [range, 0-3]) assessed in 206 evaluations. For the patients with NSCLC, IGTA was considered the most appropriate local therapy in 12 %, equal to SBRT in 22 %, and equal to lung resection in 3 % of evaluations. For the patients with thoracic metastases, IGTA was considered the most appropriate local therapy in 22 %, equal to SBRT in 12 %, and equal to lung resection in 3 % of evaluations. Although all patients were referred for consideration of IGTA, less than one third of patients with NSCLC or thoracic metastases underwent IGTA (p < 0.001). Multimodality management allowed for treatment of more tumors per patient than single-modality management (p < 0.01).

Multidisciplinary evaluation of patients with thoracic tumors referred for consideration of IGTA significantly changed patient management and facilitated lesion-specific multimodality management.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the precision and safety outcomes of image-guided lung percutaneous thermal ablation (LPTA) methods, focusing on radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA). The study utilized an innovative angle reference guide to facilitate these techniques in the treatment of lung tumors.

This study included individuals undergoing LPTA with the assistance of laser angle guide assembly (LAGA) at our hospital between April 2011 and March 2021. We analyzed patient demographics, tumor characteristics, procedure details, and complications. Logistic regressions were employed to assess risk factors associated with complications.

A total of 202 patients underwent ablation for 375 lung tumors across 275 sessions involving 495 ablations. Most procedures used RFA, especially in the right upper lobe, and the majority of ablations were performed in the prone position (49.7%). Target lesions were at a median depth of 39.3 mm from the pleura surface, and remarkably, 91.9% required only a single puncture. Complications occurred in 31.0% of ablations, with pneumothorax being the most prevalent (18.3%), followed by pain (12.5%), sweating (6.5%), fever (5.0%), cough (4.8%), hemothorax (1.6%), hemoptysis (1.2%), pleural effusion (2.0%), skin burn (0.6%), and air emboli (0.2%). The median procedure time was 21 min. Notably, smoking/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease emerged as a significant risk factor for complications.

The LAGA-assisted LPTA enhanced safety by improving accuracy and reducing risks. Overall, this investigation contributes to the ongoing efforts to refine and improve the clinical application of these thermal ablation techniques in the treatment of lung tumors.

To analyze the efficacy of stereotactic ablative brachytherapy (SABT) and percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients with early-stage (T1-T2aN0M0) NSCLC who underwent CT-guided SABT or MWA between October 2014 and March 2017 at four medical centers were retrospectively analyzed. Survival, treatment response, and procedure-related complications were assessed.

A total of 83 patients were included in this study. The median follow-up time was 55.2 months (range 7.2-76.8 months). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 96.4%, 82.3%, and 68.4% for the SABT group (n = 28), and 96.4%, 79.7%, and 63.2% for MWA group (n = 55), respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 92.9%, 74.6%, and 54.1% for SABT, and 92.7%, 70.5%, and 50.5% for MWA, respectively. There were no significant differences between SABT and MWA in terms of OS (p = 0.631) or DFS (p = 0.836). The recurrence rate was also similar between the two groups (p = 0.809). No procedure-related deaths occurred. Pneumothorax was the most common adverse event in the two groups, with no significant difference. No radiation pneumonia was found in the SABT group.

SABT provided similar efficacy to MWA for the treatment of stage I NSCLC. SABT may be a treatment option for unresectable early-stage NSCLC. However, future prospective randomized studies are required to verify these results.

BACKGROUND. Treatment options for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) who develop stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are severely limited, given that surgical resection, radiation, and systemic therapy are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous ablation of stage I-II NSCLC in patients with ILD. METHODS. This retrospective study included patients with ILD and stage I-II NSCLC treated with percutaneous ablation in three health systems between October 2004 and February 2023. At each site, a single thoracic radiologist, blinded to clinical outcomes, reviewed preprocedural chest CT examinations for the presence and type of ILD according to 2018 criteria proposed by the American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Society. The primary outcome was 90-day major (grade ≥ 3) adverse events, based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. Secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay (HLOS), local tumor control, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS. The study included 33 patients (19 men, 14 women; median age, 78 years; 16 patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 1) with ILD who underwent 42 percutaneous ablation sessions (21 cryoablations, 11 radiofrequency ablations, 10 microwave ablations) of 43 NSCLC tumors ((median tumor size, 1.6 cm; IQR, 1.4-2.5 cm; range, 0.7-5.4 cm; 37 stage I, six stage II). The extent of lung fibrosis was 20% or less in 24 patients; 17 patients had imaging findings of definite or probable usual interstitial pneumonia. The 90-day major adverse event rate was 14% (6/42), including one CTCAE grade 4 event. No acute ILD exacerbation or death occurred within 90 days after ablation. The median HLOS was 1 day (IQR, 0-2 days). Median imaging follow-up for local tumor control was 17 months (IQR, 11-32 months). Median imaging or clinical follow-up for OS was 16 months (IQR, 6-26 months). Local tumor control and OS were 78% and 77%, respectively, at 1 year and 73% and 46% at 2 years. CONCLUSION. Percutaneous ablation appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for stage I-II NSCLC in the setting of ILD after multidisciplinary selection. CLINICAL IMPACT. Patients with ILD and stage I-II NSCLC should be considered for percutaneous ablation given that they are frequently ineligible for surgical resection, radiation, and systemic therapy.

Technological advancement in low-dose computed tomography resulted in an increased incidental discovery of early-stage lung cancer and multifocal ground glass opacity. The demand for parenchyma-preserving treatment strategies is greater now than ever. Pulmonary ablative therapy is a groundbreaking technique to offer local ablative treatment in a lung-sparing manner. It has become a promising technique in lung cancer management with its diverse applicability. In this article, we will review the current development of ablative therapy in lung and look into the future of this innovative technique.

Current literature suggests that ablative therapy offers comparable local disease control to other local therapies and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), with a low risk of complications. In particular, bronchoscopic microwave ablation (BMWA) has considerably fewer pleural-based complications due to the avoidance of pleural puncture. BMWA can be considered in the multidisciplinary treatment pathway as it allows re-ablation and allows SBRT after BMWA.

With the benefits which ablative therapy offers and its ability to incorporate into the multidisciplinary management pathway, we foresee ablative therapy, especially BMWA gaining significance in lung cancer treatment. Future directions on developing novel automated navigation platforms and the latest form of ablative energy would further enhance clinical outcomes for our patients.

In patients with early-stage or recurrent NSCLC who are unable to tolerate surgery, a benefit could derive only from a systemic therapy or another few forms of local therapy. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of radiotherapy combined with local ablative therapies in the treatment of primary and recurrent lung cancer in terms of toxicity profile and local control rate. Six studies featuring a total of 115 patients who met eligibility criteria and 119 lesions were included. Three studies evaluated lung cancer patients with a medically inoperable condition treated with image-guided local ablative therapies followed by radiotherapy: their local control rate (LC) ranged from 75% to 91.7% with only 15 patients (19.4%) reporting local recurrence after combined modality treatment. The other three studies provided a salvage option for patients with locally recurrent NSCLC after RT: the median follow-up period varied from 8.3 to 69.3 months with an LC rate ranging from 50% to 100%. The most common complications were radiation pneumonitis (9.5%) and pneumothorax (29.8%). The proposed intervention appears to be promising in terms of toxicity profile and local control rate. Further prospective studies are need to better delineate combining LTA-RT treatment benefits in this setting.

To evaluate the effect of intraoperative pain in microwave ablation of lung tumors (MWALT) on local efficacy and establish the pain risk prediction model.

It was a retrospectively study. Consecutive patients with MWALT from September 2017 to December 2020 were divided into mild and severe pain groups. Local efficacy was evaluated by comparing technical success, technical effectiveness, and local progression-free survival (LPFS) in two groups. All cases were randomly allocated into training and validation cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. A nomogram model was established using predictors identified by logistics regression in training dataset. The calibration curves, C-statistic, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the accuracy, ability, and clinical value of the nomogram.

A total of 263 patients (mild pain group: n = 126; severe pain group: n = 137) were included in the study. Technical success rate and technical effectiveness rate were 100% and 99.2% in the mild pain group and 98.5% and 97.8% in the severe pain group. LPFS rates at 12 and 24 months were 97.6% and 87.6% in the mild pain group and 91.9% and 79.3% in the severe pain group (p = 0.034; HR: 1.90). The nomogram was established based on three predictors: depth of nodule, puncture depth, and multi-antenna. The prediction ability and accuracy were verified by C-statistic and calibration curve. DCA curve suggested the proposed prediction model was clinically useful.

Severe intraoperative pain in MWALT reduced the local efficacy. An established prediction model could accurately predict severe pain and assist physicians in choosing a suitable anesthesia type.

This study firstly provides a prediction model for the risk of severe intraoperative pain in MWALT. Physicians can choose a suitable anesthesia type based on pain risk, in order to improve patients' tolerance as well as local efficacy of MWALT.

• The severe intraoperative pain in MWALT reduced the local efficacy. • Predictors of severe intraoperative pain in MWALT were the depth of nodule, puncture depth, and multi-antenna. • The prediction model established in this study can accurately predict the risk of severe pain in MWALT and assist physicians in choosing a suitable anesthesia type.

Lung transplant remains an important treatment option for patients with end-stage lung diseases providing improvement in survival rates and quality of life. Specialized considerations should be applied with interventions of lung transplant recipients as they host specific anatomic variations and high risk towards certain complications. In this article, we highlight the role of interventional radiology for lung transplant recipients along with discussion of interventional techniques. Specific emphasis is placed on describing and explaining the techniques pertained to the points of anastomosis, diagnosis and treatment of malignancies, and management of complications in lung transplant recipients.

Local treatment of lung metastases has been in the front scene since late 90s when an international registry of thoracic surgery reported a median overall survival of 35 months in resected patients versus 15 months in non-resected patients. Today, other local therapies are available for patients with oligometastatic lung disease, including image guided thermal ablation, such as ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation. Image-guided ablation is increasingly offered, and now recommended in guidelines as option to surgery. Today, the size of the target tumour remains the main driver of success and selection of patients with limited tumour size allowing for local tumour control in the range of 90% in most recent and larger series targeting lung metastases up to 3.5 cm. Overall survival exceeding five-years in large series of thermal ablation for lung metastases from colorectal origin are align with outcome of same patients treated with surgical resection. Moreover, thermal ablation in such population allows for one-year chemotherapy holidays in all comers and over 18 months in lung only metastatic patients, allowing for improved patient quality of life and preserving further lines of systemic treatment when needed. Tolerance of thermal ablation is excellent and better than surgery with no lost in respiratory function, allowing for repeated treatment when needed. In the future, it is likely that practice of lung surgery for small oligometastatic lung disease will decrease, and that minimally invasive techniques will replace surgery in such indications. Randomized study will be difficult to obtain as demonstrated by discontinuation of many studies testing the hypothesis of surgery versus observation, or surgery versus SBRT.

Thermal ablation is a promising alternative treatment for lung cancer. It disintegrates cancer cells and releases antigens, followed by the remodeling of local tumor immune microenvironment and the activation of anti-tumor immune responses, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Biomarkers can offer insights into the patient's immune response and outcomes, such as local tumor control, recurrence, overall survival, and progression-free survival. Identifying and validating such biomarkers can significantly impact clinical decision-making, leading to personalized treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on potential biomarkers for predicting immune response and outcomes in lung cancer patients undergoing thermal ablation, including their potential role in lung cancer management, and the challenges and future directions.

Pulmonary carcinoma represents the second common cancer for human race while its mortality rate ranked the first all over the world. Surgery remains the primary option for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in some surgical traditions. Nevertheless, only less than half of patients are operable subjected to the limited lung function and multiple primary/metastatic lesions. Recent improvements in minimally invasive surgical techniques have made the procedure accessible to more patients, but this percentage still does not exceed half. In recent years, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), one of the thermal ablation procedures, has gradually advanced in the treatment of lung cancer in addition to being utilized to treat breast and liver cancer. Several guidelines, including the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), include RFA as an option for some patients with NSCLC although the level of evidence is mostly limited to retrospective studies. In this review, we emphasize the use of the RFA technique in patients with early-stage NSCLC and provide an overview of the RFA indication population, prognosis status, and complications. Meanwhile, the advantages and disadvantages of RFA proposed in existing studies are compared with surgical treatment and radiotherapy. Due to the high rate of gene mutation and immunocompetence in NSCLC, there are considerable challenges to clinical translation of combining targeted drugs or immunotherapy with RFA that the field has only recently begun to fully appreciate.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and chemotherapy are used to treat lung cancer or pulmonary metastases, but no direct comparison of overall survival (OS) has been published. The present study aimed to assess the OS of RFA and/or chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer or pulmonary metastases who were not candidates for surgical resection.

To identify relevant studies, the following databases were electronically searched from their inception to 31 March 2023: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Ovid, ScienceDirect, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Wanfang Database, LILACS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Chictr.org. Manual retrieval was also conducted. We used published hazard ratios (HRs) if available or estimates from other survival data.

A total of 1,387 participants from 14 trials were included in the final analysis. Patients treated with RFA combined with chemotherapy significantly improved OS compared with those treated with chemotherapy alone [HR 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41-0.61; p < 0.00001], with an absolute difference at 12 months of 29.6% (95% CI 23.7-35.5), at 24 months of 19.2% (95% CI 10.1-28.2), and at 36 months of 22.9% (95% CI 12.0-33.7). No statistically significant difference was observed in the subgroups of case type, cancer type, chemotherapy drugs, and tumor size. The HR for OS with RFA plus chemotherapy vs. RFA alone was 0.53 (95% CI 0.41-0.70; p < 0.00001), corresponding to a 27.1% (95% CI 18.3-35.8), 31.0% (95% CI 19.9-41.9), and 24.9% (95% CI 15.0-34.7) absolute difference in survival at 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months, respectively. Subgroup analysis by geographic region and TNM stage showed that RFA combined with chemotherapy still significantly improved OS compared to RFA. The HR of RFA vs. chemotherapy was 0.98 (95% CI 0.60-1.60; p = 0.94), with an absolute difference at 12 months of 1.4% (95% CI -19.2 to 22.1), at 24 months of 7.8% (95% CI -11.3 to 26.8), and at 36 months of 0.3% (95% CI -13.2 to 13.8). The overall indirect comparison of OS for RFA vs. chemotherapy was 0.95 (95% CI 0.72-1.26; p = 0.74). Data on progression-free survival were not sufficiently reported.

RFA combined with chemotherapy might be a better treatment option for patients with lung cancer or pulmonary metastases than chemotherapy alone or RFA alone. The comparison between RFA and/or chemotherapy remains to be specifically tested.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=335032, identifier CRD42022335032.

To evaluate the safety and survival outcomes of computed tomography-guided microwave ablation (MWA) for medically inoperable Stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients aged ≥70 years.

This study was a prospective, single-arm, single-center clinical trial. The MWA clinical trial enrolled patients aged ≥70 years with medically inoperable Stage I NSCLC from January 2021 to October 2021. All patients received biopsy and MWA synchronously with the coaxial technique. The primary endpoints were 1-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoint was adverse events.

A total of 103 patients were enrolled. Ninety-seven patients were eligible and analyzed. The median age was 75 years (range, 70-91 years). The median diameter of tumors was 16 mm (range, 6-33 mm). Adenocarcinoma (87.6%) was the most common histologic finding. With a median follow-up of 16.0 months, the 1-year OS and PFS rates were 99.0% and 93.7%, respectively. There were no procedure-related deaths in any patient within 30 days after MWA. Most of the adverse events were minor.

MWA is an effective and safe treatment for patients aged ≥70 years with medically inoperable Stage I NSCLC.

Lung cancer combined by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (LC-COPD) is a common comorbidity and their interaction with each other poses significant clinical challenges. However, there is a lack of well-established consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of LC-COPD.

A panel of experts, comprising specialists in oncology, respiratory medicine, radiology, interventional medicine, and thoracic surgery, was convened. The panel was presented with a comprehensive review of the current evidence pertaining to LC-COPD. After thorough discussions, the panel reached a consensus on 17 recommendations with over 70% agreement in voting to enhance the management of LC-COPD and optimize the care of these patients.

The 17 statements focused on pathogenic mechanisms (n=2), general strategies (n=4), and clinical application in COPD (n=2) and lung cancer (n=9) were developed and modified. These statements provide guidance on early screening and treatment selection of LC-COPD, the interplay of lung cancer and COPD on treatment, and considerations during treatment. This consensus also emphasizes patient-centered and personalized treatment in the management of LC-COPD.

The consensus highlights the need for concurrent treatment for both lung cancer and COPD in LC-COPD patients, while being mindful of the mutual influence of the two conditions on treatment and monitoring for adverse reactions.

Thermal ablation is a minimally invasive technology used to treat many types of tumors, including lung cancer. Specifically, lung ablation has been increasingly performed for unsurgical fit patients with both early-stage primi-tive lung cancer and pulmonary metastases. Image-guided available techniques include radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, laser ablation and irreversible electroporation. Aim of this review is to illustrate the major thermal ablation modalities, their indications and contraindications, complications, outcomes and notably the possible future challenges.

The widespread use of imaging as well as the efforts conducted through screening campaigns has dramatically increased the early detection rate of lung cancer. Historically, the management of lung cancer has heavily relied on surgery. However, the increased proportion of patients with comorbidities has given significance to less invasive therapeutic options like minimally invasive surgery and image-guided thermal ablation, which could precisely target the tumor without requiring general anesthesia or a thoracotomy. Thermal ablation is considered low-risk for lung tumors smaller than 3 cm that are located in peripheral lung and do not involve major blood vessels or airways. The rationale for ablative therapies relies on the fact that focused delivery of energy induces cell death and pathologic necrosis. Image-guided percutaneous thermal ablation therapies are established techniques in the local treatment of hepatic, renal, bone, thyroid and uterine lesions. In the lung, and specifically in the setting of metastatic disease, the 3 main indications for lung ablation are to serve as (1) curative intent, (2) as a strategy to achieve a chemo-holiday in oligometastatic disease, and (3) in oligoprogressive disease. Following these premises, the current paper aims to review the rationale, indications, and outcomes of thermal ablation as a form of local therapy in the treatment of primary and metastatic lung disease.

Treatment options for medically inoperable, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) and percutaneous image guided thermal ablation. SABR is delivered over 1-5 sessions of highly conformal ablative radiation with excellent tumor control. Toxicity is depending on tumor location and anatomy but is typically mild. Studies evaluating SABR in operable NSCLC are ongoing. Thermal ablation can be delivered via radiofrequency, microwave, or cryoablation, with promising results and modest toxicity. We review the data and outcomes for these approaches and discuss ongoing studies.

The lung parenchyma and adjacent tissues are one of the most common sites of metastatic disease. Traditionally, the approach to treatment of a patient with lung metastases has been with systemic therapy, with radiotherapy being reserved for palliative management of symptomatic disease. The concept of oligo metastatic disease has paved the way for more radical treatment options, administered either alone or as local consolidative therapy in addition to systemic treatment. The modern-day management of lung metastases is guided by a number of factors, including the number of lung metastases, extra-thoracic disease status, overall performance status, and life expectancy, which all help determine the goals of care. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has emerged as a safe and effective method in locally controlling lung metastases, in the oligo metastatic or oligo-recurrent setting. This article outlines the role of radiotherapy in multimodality management of lung metastases.