Rationale: High morbidity and high mortality are the main features of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Radiofrequency ablation, which produces a large amount of heat to kill tumor cells, is one effective way to treat this disease.
Patient concerns: We report the case of a 74-year-old man who presented with a 1-month history of right chest pain. His left lung was removed 12 years prior. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass in the right lower lobe.
Diagnoses: An excision biopsy of the mass showed lung squamous cell carcinoma.
Interventions: We performed radiofrequency ablation.
Outcomes: The patient underwent 3.5 and 10 months of follow-up, with a partial response and complete remission, respectively.
Lessons: CT-guided radiofrequency ablation is a safe and an effective minimally invasive treatment option. Radiofrequency appears to be a valuable alternative to surgery for inoperable patients presenting with a single-lung NSCLC.