Concurrent lung and liver ablation proves feasible

Interventional radiologists in Italy have shown the feasibility of concurrent radio-frequency ablation of hepatic and pulmonary tumors.

Dr. Davide Becanni and colleagues at the University of Florence performed 65 RF ablations in 25 patients with hepatic and pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma. Both hepatic and pulmonary lesions were treated in a single-session procedure using one RF generator with either single or cluster probes. RFA successfully ablated all lesions, as confirmed by either CT or PET follow-up.

No liver complications were reported, although five patients who were treated for pulmonary metastases developed pneumothorax.

Physicians still have to define the best target population and the cost-benefit ratio for dual RFA. But his study shows that the procedure can reduce hospitalization time without adding to the complication rate, Becanni said.