Debra Ann Gervais MD, Presenter: Research Grant, Covidien AG

Terrance T. Healey MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Anil Nicholas Kurup MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Muneeb Ahmed MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

1) Gain knowledge as to how to approach tumor ablation in extrahepatic sites. 2) How to avoid and manage organ specific complications. 3) Review results of tumor ablation in the lung, kidney, and bone.

Pulmonary malignancies, and specifically lung cancer, are a leading cause of death worldwide. Utilization of best current therapies results in an overall five-year relative survival rate for all stages combined to be only 15%, necessitating the use of alternative therapies. Image-guided ablation of lung malignancies is a revolutionary concept whose clinical applications are just beginning to be developed. It has some advantages over traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Its safety profile is similar to percutaneous image guided lung biopsy. Almost all image-guided ablative procedures can be performed in an outpatient setting, mostly with conscious sedation. Multiple applications can be performed without any additional risks. Contraindications are few and include uncontrollable bleeding diathesis and recent use of anticoagulants. Image-guided ablation of lung malignancies is performed with two basic rationales. In the first group it is used with an intention of achieving definitive therapy. These are patients who are not candidates for surgery because of co-morbid medical contraindications to surgery, like poor cardiopulmonary reserve or patients refusing to undergo operation. This cohort could potentially derive significant benefit form a minimally invasive alternative therapy. In the second group it is used as a palliative measure as follows: (a) to achieve tumor reduction before chemotherapy (b) to palliate local symptoms related to aggressive tumor growth, such as chest pain, chest wall pain or dyspnea (c) hematogenous painful bony metastatic disease (d) tumor recurrence in patients who are not suitable for repeat radiation therapy or surgery Image-guided ablation is expanding treatment options for the local control of non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic disease.  

Gervais, D, Healey, T, Kurup, A, Ahmed, M, Tumor Ablation beyond the Liver: Practical Techniques for Success (How-to Workshop).  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/5001107.html