Some patients who are not candidates for surgery because of their lung condition or because of other medical conditions may be able to have their lung cancer treated with newly developed minimally-invasive treatments called radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. A surgeon and an interventional radiologist work together to perform these treatments. Both treatments involve use of a catheter (thin tube), guided by a CT scan that is inserted into the lung and then into the tumor. Once there, thermal energy (heat) or cryoenergy (freeze) is delivered through the catheter to kill the cancer.
Radiofrequency ablation is the treatment that heats the tumor, and cryoablation is the treatment that freezes it. In general, these treatments are used to treat small, early-stage lung cancer. Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia, and require an overnight stay in the hospital.
Sometimes during the procedure the lung can collapse. This condition may require that you have a drain placed in your chest.
Radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation require that you have pre-operative testing. After the procedures, you will be followed closely, with scheduled CT (computed tomography) scans and PET (positron emission tomography) scans.
These procedures can be repeated if the cancer comes back (recurs), or if the tumor has an incomplete response to them.
Please click here for pre-operative instructions, "Preparing for Lung Surgery."