Eun Hae Park, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gong Yong Jin MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yongchul Lee, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Young Min Han MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the maximal size of nodule that can be ablated completely by cyrotherapy in patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through long term follow up.

Cryotherapy for NSCLC in inoperable patients were performed prospectively with approval of the institutional ethics committee at our institution. Eleven NSCLC patients (4 male, 7 female, average age of 67.5 years) were enrolled and had cryotherapy from August 2006 to December 2008 and were followed until March 2010. The average size of the nodules was 15.2±7.4 mm (range, 5-25 mm). The cryotherapy was performed by repeating freezing and thawing for the average time of 56 minutes. Follow up enhanced chest CTs were performed 1 and every 3 months after procedure. We divided the patients into complete and partial ablation groups based on the last enhanced CT findings to compare the survival duration and complications. And the effectiveness of cryotherapy was evaluated by their size.

The average follow up period was 26.2±12.8 months. The survival duration of complete ablation group was 42.3±8.5 months, while that of partial ablation group was 20.1± 7.9 months (p<0.05). The average tumor size of complete ablation group was 7.6 mm (5-12 mm), while that of partial ablation group was 18 mm. Complete ablation was possible in 100% for the nodules less than 5 mm, 66.7% for 10mm, 37.5% for 20 mm, and 27.3% for 25 mm. Two patients developed hemoptysis and pneumothorax after the procedure.

Cryotherapy is effective in inoperable NSCLC nodules less than 10 mm. For complete ablation, we recommend to perform cryotherapy in nodule less than 5mm.

We suggest cyrotherapy as effective treatment method for inoperable NSCLC only when they are in small size.

Park, E, Jin, G, Lee, Y, Han, Y, Cryotherapy for Inoperable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: What Is the Size Limit of Nodule That Can Be Ablated Completely?.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9010869.html