Abstract
The incidence of lung cancers in 2012 is estimated to reach 226,160 new cases, with
only a third of patients suitable surgical candidates. Tumor ablation has emerged
as an important and efficacious treatment option for nonsurgical lung cancer patients.
This localized minimally invasive therapy is best suited for small oligonodular lesions
or favorably located metastatic tumors. Radiofrequency ablation has been in use for
over a decade, and newer modalities including microwave ablation, cryoablation, and
irreversible electroporation have emerged as additional treatment options for patients.
Ablation therapies can offer patients and clinicians a repeatable and effective therapy
for palliation and, in some cases, cure of thoracic malignancies. This article discusses
the available technologies and techniques available for tumor ablation of thoracic
malignancies including patient selection, basic aspects of procedure technique, imaging
follow-up, treatment outcomes, and comparisons between various therapies.
Keywords
lung cancer - thermal ablation - radiofrequency ablation - microwave ablation - cryoablation
- interventional radiology
