Abstract
Lung radiofrequency (RF) ablation was performed for the treatment of a primary lung cancer measuring 2.5 cm in maximum diameter in a 78-year-old man. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) study performed 3 months after RF ablation showed incomplete ablation of the lung tumor and the appearance of a chest wall tumor 4.0 cm in maximum diameter that was considered to be the result of needle-tract seeding. RF ablation was performed for the treatment of both the lung and the chest wall tumors. Although tumor enhancement was eradicated in both of the treated tumors, follow-up CT studies revealed diffuse intra-pulmonary metastases in both lungs 2 months after the second RF session. He is currently receiving systemic chemotherapy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rossi S, Garbagnati F, Rosa L, et al. (2002) Radiofrequency thermal ablation for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Clin Oncol 7(4):225–235
Llovet JM, Vilana R, Bru C, et al. (2001) Increased risk of tumor seeding after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for single hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 33(5):1124–1129
Mulier S, Mulier P, Ni Y, et al. (2002) Complications of radiofrequency coagulation of liver tumours. Br J Surg 89(10):1206–1222
Livraghi T, Solbiati L, Meloni MF, et al. (2003) Treatment of focal liver tumors with percutaneous radio-frequency ablation: Complications encountered in a multicenter study. Radiology 226(2):441–451
Herrera LJ, Fernando HC, Perry Y, et al. (2003) Radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary malignant tumors in nonsurgical candidates. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 125(4):929–937
Steinke K, Sewell PE, Dupuy D, et al. (2004) Pulmonary radiofrequency ablation: An international study survey. Anticancer Res 24(1):339–343
Akeboshi M, Yamakado K, Nakatsuka A, et al. (2004) Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of lung neoplasms: Initial therapeutic response. J Vasc Intervent Radiol 15(5):463–470
Vaughn C, Mychaskiw G 2nd, Sewell P (2002) Massive hemorrhage during radiofrequency ablation of a pulmonary neoplasm. Anesth Analg 94(5):1149–1151
Sinner WN (1976) Complications of percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy. Acta Radiol Diagn 17(6):813–828
Kim JH, Kim YT, Lim HK, et al. (2003) Management for chest wall implantation of non-small cell lung cancer after fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 23(5):828–832
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamakado, K., Akeboshi, M., Nakatsuka, A. et al. Tumor Seeding Following Lung Radiofrequency Ablation: A Case Report. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 28, 530–532 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-004-0246-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-004-0246-7