Microwave Ablation in Managing Lung Cancer: A Case Report Article Sidebar

Abstract

Lung cancer recurrence and metastasis from other organs is now frequently observed. 1 For early stages, surgery remains the first choice of treatment but recent studies reported that 2-5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients later develop metastasis or tumor recurrence. 2,3 Late stage patients are not the best candidates for curative surgery due to extent of the disease, comorbidities and poor cardio-respiratory function.PIMT is a rare benign tumor that constitutes 0.7% of all lung lesions. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Diagnosis through biopsy and radiologic exam is difficult due to its varying cell characteristic and images. Management of this rare disease is dependent on the type of tumor, extent of disease and general health status of the patient. 10 For treatment purposes and to prevent recurrences, complete resection is necessary. However, not all are valid candidates undergo surgery. 11There are other available treatment options both for early and late stages of lung cancer and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) that are minimally invasive. These include chemotherapy, target therapy, radio therapy and thermal ablation which are proven safe and effective management options. 1,[12][13][14][15] MWA therapy is a technology that is image-guided and uses high frequency microwave energy waves that produce tissue-heating effects to destruct solid tumors. It is less invasive, proven effective, preserves normal lung parenchyma and can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and/or external beam radiation. 16 The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MWA as an alternative treatment of lung tumors in different case scenarios. Case Reports Case # 1In October 2016, a 69-year-old female patient came for a routine check-up. She was asymptomatic, non-smoker and had no family history of tuberculosis or lung cancer. Her chest x-ray showed an ill-defined nodule at left upper lung, measuring about 4.0x4.2 cm, with diffuse nodular opacity in both lungs. Computed tomography (CT) of chest revealed multiple small nodules measuring 4 mm, 5 mm, and 6 mm at the right AbstractLung tumors are effectively managed through surgery. But for inoperable lung cancers such as in advanced stages, poor respiratory function and other diseases like pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (PIMT), minimal invasive techniques like percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) therapy is the preferred treatment option. MWA is a curative alternative approach used to destroy malignant tumor cells with minimal normal tissue damage. This instrument uses high frequency microwave energy waves that produce tissue-heating effects to destruct solid tumors. The purpose of this case report is to illustrate how MWA effectively managed four various cases of lung cancer.

Microwave ablation for the management of pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: a case report and literature review

“…However, the clinical application of MWA for the treatment of IMT has been rarely reported due to the rarity of IMT. Saenghirunvattana et al ( 17 ) reported the case of a young patient (29 years old) with pulmonary IMT who achieved partial remission after receiving multiple treatments, including (but not limited to) three rounds of percutaneous MWA. Furthermore, no significant complications were observed during the perioperative period, which indicated that MWA monotherapy is probably applicable for the treatment of elderly patients with pulmonary IMT.…”