Objectives: In the present study, we aim to show the results of microwave ablation (MWA) for medically inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) with long-term follow-up.
Methods: From Feb 2011 to Mar 2016, patients with histologically proven clinical stage I NSCLC were treated with CT-guided MWA and retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points included disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and complications.
Results: A total of 105 patients with 105 lesions underwent MWA. The mean age was 70.7 years (range: 40-86 years), and the mean diameter of all lesions was 2.40 cm (range: 0.9-4.0 cm). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type (77, 73.3%), followed by squamous cell carcinomas (21, 20%) and undefined NSCLC (7, 6.7%). With a median follow-up of 54.8 months, the median DFS was 36.0 months, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS rates were 89.5%, 49.4%, and 42.7%, respectively. The median CSS and OS were 89.8 and 64.2 months, respectively. The OS rate was 99% at 1 year, 75.6% at 3 years, and 54.1% at 5 years, while the CSS rates were 99%, 78.9%, and 60.9%, respectively. Patients with stage IB lesions had significant shorter DFS (22.3 months vs. undefined, HR: 11.5, 95%CI: 5.85-22.40) and OS (37.3 vs. 89.8 months, HR: 8.64, 95% CI: 4.49-16.60) than IA disease.
Conclusion: MWA is a safe, effective, and potentially curative therapy for medically inoperable stage I NSCLC patients.
Key points: • In this multicenter retrospective study which included 105 patients, we found the median overall survival (OS) was 64.2 months. The OS rate was 99% at 1 year, 75.6% at 3 years, and 54.1% at 5 years. • Procedures were technically successful and well tolerated in all patients. Most MWA complications were mild or moderate.
Keywords: Disease-free survival; Early stage; Microwave ablation; Non-small cell lung cancers; Overall survival.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Society of Radiology.