Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for lung malignancies in patients with severe emphysema.
Materials and methods: The clinical records of 1075 consecutive patients treated for malignant lung tumors in our department were retrospectively reviewed. Emphysema was assessed based on standard-dose computed tomography (CT) and was considered severe when it occupied ≥25% of the lung. Overall, 26 patients (24 men and 2 women; mean age ± standard deviation [SD]: 71.23 ± 8.18 years, range: 59-88 years) with severe emphysema underwent CT-guided percutaneous MWA for treating 26 tumors (24: non-small cell lung cancer and 2: metastases). The mean tumor size was 3.0 cm (SD: 1.5, range: 1.2-6.5 cm). Follow-up was performed with CT at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after ablation, and every 6 months thereafter. Complications and efficacy were evaluated.
Results: The median follow-up duration in all patients was 17.5 months (range: 5-37 months, interquartile range: 15.8). The mortality rate was 0% within 30 days after ablation. Major complications including pneumonia, lung abscess and refractory pneumothorax occurred in 19.2% (5/26) patients. The technical success and efficacy rates were 88.5% (23/26) and 87.0% (20/23), respectively, and the local tumor progression rate was 30.0% (6/20).
Conclusion: MWA appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic option for treating lung malignancies in patients with severe emphysema.
Keywords: Complications; lung cancer; malignant lung tumor; microwave ablation; severe emphysema.