Cryoablation of lung malignancies recurring close to surgical clips following surgery: Report of three cases

Abstract

Background: Minimally ablative therapies are now available for the treatment of lung malignancies. However, selection of the appropriate technique is not always easy and requires accurate preoperative planning. Aims: To describe the treatment of lung tumors with cryoablation. Settings and Design: We report three cases of lung malignancies that recurred close to surgical clips after surgical treatment, successfully treated by cryoablation. Materials and Methods: An initial freezing cycle was performed for 10 min, followed by a 5-min thawing cycle, and an additional 10-min freezing cycle. A final 5-min thaw was necessary to remove the needle from the iceball formed during the freezing cycle. Results: The procedures were completed successfully with no signs of surgical-clip misplacement, and excellent ablation of the lesions. Conclusion: Cryoablation is a relatively new procedure that potentially permits the local treatment of lung tumors with minimal loss of lung parenchyma.

Keywords

• computed tomography guidance
• cryoablation; lung cancer
• lung metastasis