Feasibility of ablation as an alternative to surgical metastasectomy in patients with unresectable sarcoma pulmonary metastases

Abstract

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an alternate treatment modality for pulmonary metastasis in non-surgical candidates. Four patients not suitable for surgery underwent percutaneous RFA for pulmonary metastases from leiomyosarcoma. Success of RFA was assessed with computed tomography (CT). The median length from the radiographic diagnosis of metastatic pulmonary disease (CT-scan) from the primary tumor diagnosis was 67.0 months with a range of 15.0-81.0 months. The median disease free interval following RFA was 19.0 months with a range of 4.0-35.0 months. Three of four patients underwent the procedure uneventfully. RFA is a safe and minimally invasive intervention in non-surgical candidates with sarcoma pulmonary metastases.