Percutaneous Multiple Electrode Hyperthermia Radiofrequency Ablation of Lung Metastases

Objective:The efficacy and safety of percutaneous multiple electrode radiofrequency (MERF) hyperthermia ablation guided by computerized tomography (CT) for the treatment of lung metastases were investigated.Methods:34 patients of lung metastases with 206 different pathological types were treated with MERF technique.The patients’ blood pressure,pulse rate and oxygen saturation were monitored during the procedure.The hepatic,pulmonary and renal functions were examined before and after the procedure.The tumor bulk and its low-density shadow (LDS) were compared with CT before and after the treatment. Results:There were no any changes in the blood pressure,pulse rate and oxygen saturation in the whole series before,immediately after the termination and one month after the procedure,nor did the hepatic,pulmonary and renal function as well.The bulk of the tumor in this group as a whole enlarged by the end of the first month after the therapy.The CT scanning of the tumor at the end of the third month revealed that among 206 tumors there had 46 CR(100% regression),107 PRa(80%～100% regression),49 PRb(50%～80% regression),and 4 NR(less than 50% regression).By the third month,the LDS of 206 tumors checked by CT showed 6 in Ⅰ type (less than 50%),86 in Ⅱ type (50%～80%) and 114 in Ⅲ type (more than 80%).Conclusion:The multiple electrode radiofrequency hyperthermia ablation is a promising mini-invasive technique for the treatment of lung metastases with the satisfactory efficacy and safety.