[Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in treatment of advanced local lung cancer: clinical analysis of 78 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of advanced lung cancer. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with advanced local lung cancer were treated with RFA at the temperature from 70 degrees C to 90 degrees C under local or intravenous anesthesia under CT scan for 8 minutes to 26 minutes. 103 times of RFA were done in 78 patients, 19 of them being treated twice and 2 treated tree times. Followed up was conducted for 1 - 6 months. The outcomes were evaluated by plain and contrast spiral CT scanning. RESULTS: During RFA 32 patients felt pain, and 18 patients experienced cough and hemoptysis. After RFA pneumothorax was seen in 18 of the patients, and contrast spiral CT scanning showed devascularization and/or reduction of tumor size in 67 lesions. CONCLUSION: Removing tumor load rapidly and with excellent short-term outcome, percutaneous RAF is safe to treat advanced local lung cancer.