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Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) followed by immediate biopsy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to clarify whether pathology changes can predict treatment responses and patient survival. Methods: Patients with pathologically confirmed NSCLC pre-ablation were treated with MWA, and immediate biopsy was carried out right after ablation in one procedure. Pathology changes were categorized according to the pre- and postablation pathology: Group A, same histology type; Group B, paired histology type with burning degeneration; Group C, no definite histology type; Group D, no definite cancer cells. The internal correlations between pathology changes and baseline characteristics, responses to MWA and survival were evaluated. Results: A total of 68 patients were enrolled in the study, of which 19, 28, 11 and 10 patients were classified into Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D, respectively. In total, 85.3 and 69.1% patients were diagnosed with malignant tumors and the same pathology type, respectively. No significant difference in clinical-pathologic characteristics or response to MWA between the groups was observed. Upon combining Groups A, B and C, Group D exhibited longer progression-free survival (PFS) (Groups A + B + C versus Group D, 11.7 months, 95% CI 9.6-13.7 versus 26.6 months, 95% CI 19.0-34.2, p = .253) and overall survival (OS) (15.9 months, 95% CI 14.2-17.5, versus 29.8 months, 95% CI, 24.3-35.3, p = .395), although no significant differences were observed. Complications were identified in 63 (92.6%), of which 17 (25.0%) patients had major complications. Conclusions: Immediate biopsy post-MWA can distinguish cancer cells or histology types in most cases of NSCLC. However, pathology changes pre- and postablation could not predict the response to MWA and patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retroperitoneal metastases are common, and most present with symptoms; however, treatments for this condition are limited. This retrospective study verified the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) in retroperitoneal metastases patients. Methods: Patients with pathologically confirmed malignant carcinoma and imaging showing retroperitoneal metastases were enrolled and underwent MWA. The end-points included objective response rate, time to local progression (TTLP), overall survival, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, dose of morphine pre- and post-ablation and complications. Results: Twenty-three patients were enrolled. The mean tumour diameter was 3.6 cm. Altogether, 29 tumour sites in 23 patients were ablated during 23 procedures; technical success was achieved in all 23 patients. The objective response and disease control rates were 95.7% and 100.0%, respectively. The mean TTLP and median OS were 22.8 months (95% CI: 16.1-29.6 months) and 10.6 months (95% CI: 7.4-13.8 months), respectively. In 13 patients with symptoms, the VAS values before ablation and 48 h, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months after ablation were 5.38, 2.77 (p = 0.015), 2.15 (p = 0.001), 2.17 (p = 0.001), 1.40 (p = 0.000) and 1.71 (p = 0.006), respectively. The corresponding morphine doses were 76.9 mg, 70.7 mg (p = 0.584), 50.7 mg (p = 0.031), 55.0 mg (p = 0.097), 46.0 mg (p = 0.057) and 40.0 mg (p = 0.363), respectively. No ablation-associated mortality was observed. Major complications, minor complications and adverse events were observed in eight (34.8%), five (21.7%) and four (17.4%) patients, respectively. Conclusion: MWA for the treatment of retroperitoneal metastases was effective and the complications were common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]