Staged Radiofrequency Ablation and Surgical Resection for Multiple Lung Metastases of Germ Cell Tumors

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the morbidity and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) performed before surgical resection for multiple residual lung metastases of germ cell tumors with negative tumor markers. Materials and Methods: This Review Board-approved retrospective study was carried out on five consecutive patients (mean age: 31 years, range: 22–41) treated successively with percutaneous RFA and surgery for multiple lung metastases of germ cell tumors. Mean number of lung metastases before treatment was 9.4. Staged procedures were performed on an average of 7.2 months (range: 1–16) after the primitive tumor resection. Results: The median clinical and imaging follow-up was 26 months (range: 24–36). Percutaneous RFA was technically feasible in one session under general anesthesia and CT guidance in all cases. On average, 2.8 tumors were ablated per patient (range: 1–6), and three of five procedures were bilateral. Three patients developed pneumothorax requiring drainage, but no severe complications were reported. Mean time between RFA and surgical resection of residual tumors was 2.5 months (range: 1–5). No local recurrences were noted, but one patient died due to metastatic evolution. Conclusion: Staged percutaneous RFA and surgical resection could be efficient with low morbidity for the management of multiple lung metastases of germ cell tumors.

Keywords

• germ cell tumor
• lung metastasis
• radiofrequency ablation
• surgery