Microwave ablation via a flexible catheter for the treatment of nonsurgical peripheral lung cancer: A pilot study

Xie F, Chen J, Jiang Y, Sun J, Hogarth DK, Herth FJF.

Microwave ablation via a flexible catheter for the treatment of nonsurgical peripheral lung cancer: A pilot study. Thorac Cancer. 2022 Apr;13(7):1014-1020. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.14351. Epub 2022 Feb 14. PMID: 35166043; PMCID: PMC8977152.

What is the key question?

  • Improvement in bronchoscopic navigation techniques could allow local treatment of peripheral malignancies using ablation modalities. This study investigated the feasibility and safety of a novel bronchoscopic microwave ablation (MWA) device in peripheral lung cancers.

What is the bottom line?

  • Fourteen lesions (in 13 patients) were treated with the MWA device after electromagnetic-guided-navigation, that included solid and subsolid malignancies. Technical operation was 100% successful.
  • Radiological complete ablation success was 78.6% and 2-year local control rate was 71.4%.
  • Complications occurred in 2 patients consisting of a hydropneumothorax and pneumothorax.

Why read on?

  • The authors provide details on the MWA system used and procedural details. They also provided details on characteristics of each patient treated and post-treatment survival.