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This retrospective study assessed the incidence rate, risk factors, and clinical course of early enlarging cavitation after percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of primary lung cancer (PLC). This study included 557 lesions of 514 patients with PLC who underwent CT-guided percutaneous MWA between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021. Of these patients, 29 developed early enlarging cavitation and were enrolled in the cavity group, and 173 were randomly enrolled in the control group. Early enlarging cavitation of the lung was defined as the development of a cavity ≥30 mm within 7 days after MWA. Overall, 31 (5.57%, 31/557 tumors) early enlarging cavitations occurred at an average of 5.83 ± 1.55 d after MWA. The risk factors were lesion contact with a large vessel (diameter ≥3 mm), lesion contact with the bronchus (diameter ≥2 mm), and a large ablated parenchymal volume. The cavity group had a higher incidence rate of delayed hydropneumothorax (12.9%) and bronchopleural fistula (9.68%) than the control group, resulting in a longer hospitalization (9.09 ± 5.26 days). Until Dec 31, 2022, 27 cavities disappeared after a mean of 217.88 ± 78.57 d (range, 111–510 d), two persisted, and two were lost to follow-up. Early enlarging cavitation occurred in 5.57% PLC cases that underwent MWA, causing serve complications and longer hospitalization. The risk factors were ablated lesion contact with large vessels and bronchi, as well as a larger ablated parenchymal volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of synchronous biopsy and microwave ablation (MWA) for highly suspected malignant lung ground-glass opacities (GGOs) adjacent to the mediastinum (distance ≤10 mm). Ninety patients with 98 GGOs (diameter range, 6–30 mm), located within 10 mm of the mediastinum, underwent synchronous biopsy and MWA at a single institution from 1 May 2020, to 31 October 2021 and were enrolled in this study. Synchronous biopsy and MWA involving the completion of the biopsy and MWA in a single procedure was performed. Safety, technical success rate, and local progression-free survival (LPFS) were evaluated. The risk factors for local progression were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test. The technical success rate was 97.96% (96/98 patients). The LPFS rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 95.0%, 90.0%, and 82.0%, respectively. The diagnostic rate of biopsy-proven malignancy was 72.45% (n = 71/98). Invasion of lesions into the mediastinum was a risk factor for local progression (p = 0.0077). The 30-day mortality rate was 0. The major complications were pneumothorax (13.27%), ventricular arrhythmias (3.06%), pleural effusion (1.02%), hemoptysis (1.02%), and infection (1.02%). Minor complications included pneumothorax (30.61%), pleural effusion (24.49%), hemoptysis (18.37%), ventricular arrhythmias (11.22%), structural changes in adjacent organs (3.06%), and infection (3.06%). Synchronous biopsy and MWA was effective for treating GGOs adjacent to the mediastinum without severe complications (Society of Interventional Radiology classification E or F). Invasion of lesions into the mediastinum was identified as a risk factor for local progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation has an increasing role in the treatment of primary and metastatic lung tumors. Although microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged advantageous as a new ablation technology, more research is needed to improve it. This study aims to investigate the ablation zone of three microwave antennas in ex vivo porcine lung. Materials and Methods: In the ex vivo standard model and porcine lung model, MWA was performed in three power output settings (50 W, 60 W, and 70 W) for 3, 6, 9, and 12 min using three microwave antennas, with outer diameter of 1.03 mm (19G), 1.6 mm (16G), and 2.0 mm (14G). A total of 108 and 216 sessions were performed (3 or 6 sessions per time setting with the 14G, 16G, and 19G microwave antennas). After the MWA was complete, we evaluated the shape and extent of the coagulation zone and measured the maximum long-axis (along the needle axis; length [L]) and maximum short-axis (perpendicular to the needle; diameter [D]) of the ablation zones using a ruler; subsequently, the sphericity index (L/D) was calculated. The sphericity index can be simplified as long-axis/short-axis. Results: In the ex vivo standard model study, the long- and short-axis diameters and sphericity indices were not statistically different between the 14G, 16G, and 19G groups. In the ex vivo porcine lung study, the long- and short-axis diameters did not differ statistically between the 14G, 16G, and 19G groups (P < 0.05 each). The sphericity index for the 19G microwave antenna was higher than the sphericity indices for the 14G and 16G microwave antennas (P < 0.05); however, the index for the 14G microwave antenna was not statistically different than that for the 16G microwave antenna (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The ablation zone of the 19G antenna was the same as those of the 14G and 16G antennas in vitro. Thus, the 19G antenna may reduce the incidence of complications in lung tumor ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This retrospective study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation for lung tumors adjacent to the interlobar fissures. Methods: From May 2020 to April 2021, 59 patients with 66 lung tumors (mean diameter, 16.9 ± 7.7 mm; range, 6–30 mm) adjacent to the interlobar fissures who underwent microwave ablation at our institution were identified and included in this study. Based on the relationship between the tumor and the interlobar fissure, tumors can be categorized into close to the fissure, causing the fissure, and involving the fissure. The complete ablation rate, local progression‐free survival, complications, and associated factors were analyzed. Results: All 66 histologically proven tumors were treated using computed tomography‐guided microwave ablation. The complete ablation rate was 95.5%. Local progression‐free survival at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 89.4%, 83.3%, 74.2%, and 63.6%, respectively. The complications included pneumothorax (34.8%), pleural effusion (24.2%), cavity (18.2%), and pulmonary infection (7.6%). There were statistical differences in the incidence of pneumothorax, cavity, and delayed complications between the groups with and without antenna punctures through the fissure. Conclusions: Microwave ablation is a safe and effective treatment for lung tumor adjacent to the interlobar fissure. Antenna puncturing though the interlobar fissure may be a potential risk factor for pneumothorax, cavity, and delayed complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combined therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and microwave ablation (MWA) is known to improve outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the mechanism underlying the synergistic effect of these two treatments is unknown. Tumor immune microenvironment is known to affect the efficacy of ICI. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated changes in the levels of peripheral cytokines at 48 h and 1-month post-ablation in patients with NSCLC.Materials and Methods: A total of 44 patients with primary NSCLC were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent MWA of the primary tumors. Plasma samples were collected pre- and post-ablation to examine the levels of various cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ).Results: Although the levels of the majority of cytokines remained within normal range, levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ were significantly decreased at 48 h post-ablation and increased at 1-month post-ablation. In the subgroup analyses, changes in IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were commonly identified. Moreover, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status, sex, pathology type, tumor site, and tumor size were associated with cytokines' levels pre-ablation or post-ablation.Conclusion: MWA of NSCLC tumors influenced the plasma levels of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of computed tomography-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) to treat pulmonary nodules under conscious analgosedation with sufentanil.Materials and Methods: February to May 2021, 124 patients with 151 pulmonary nodules were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent 124 sessions of MWA. Sufentanil (0.25 μg/kg) was injected intravenously before MWA.Results: The technical success was 100% and no procedure-related deaths. The dosage of sufentanil was 16.6 ± 3.0 μg. The mean tumor diameter in the enrolled patients was 1.3 ± 0.8 cm. The intraoperative mean numerical rating scale (NRS) was 2.2 ± 1.7. Among the patients with NRS >3, seven patients had nodules adjacent to the pleura, while in ten patients, they were not adjacent. The mean systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate of patients were 139.1 ± 23.5 mmHg, 77.8 ± 12.3, and 76.1 ± 13.4 times/min, respectively, before sufentanil injection. The mean lowest systolic, lowest diastolic blood pressure, and lowest heart rate intraoperative were 132.9 ± 22.0 mmHg, 76.1 ± 12.1, and 74.0 ± 13.5 times/min. Twenty-six patients had mild adverse events including nausea (6.45%, 8/124), dizziness (2.42%, 3/124), vomiting(4.03%, 5/124), nausea and dizziness (2.42%, 3/124), nausea with vomiting and dizziness (2.42%, 3/124), urinary retention (1.61%, 2/124) and respiratory depression (0.81%, 1/124).Conclusion: Sufentanil is a feasible, safe, and effective analgesic for MWA in patients with pulmonary nodules. It can be used for clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) and MWA plus monochemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with advanced NSCLC aged ≥70 years were retrospectively enrolled. MWA was performed at the primary tumor site. The end points included progression-free survival (PFS), response to MWA and overall survival (OS). Fifty-four patients were enrolled; of these, 36 received monochemotherapy. Complete ablation was achieved in 42 patients (77.8%). The median PFS and OS were 4.9 months and 21.8 months, respectively. Univariate analyses showed that female patients had superior PFS (31.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8–63.0]) vs. 5.0 months in male patients (95% CI: 2.0–8.0), p =.002). Female sex was associated with better OS (not reached vs. 10.8 months, 95% CI: 9.3–12.3, p =.003). Moreover, patients with primary tumor size <3.5 cm had better OS than those with tumor size ≥3.5 cm (not reached vs. 10.9 months, 95% CI: 8.2–13.6, p =.006). Multivariate analyses showed that no characteristics were independent prognostic factors of PFS, but sex and primary tumor size were independent prognostic factors of OS. MWA was effective in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although surgical lobectomy with systematic mediastinal lymph node evaluation is considered as the "gold standard" for management of early stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), image‐guided percutaneous thermal ablation has been increasingly used for medically inoperable patients. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a research‐based technique that has the most studies for medically inoperable early‐stage NSCLC. Other thermal ablation techniques used to treat pulmonary tumors include microwave ablation (MWA), cryoablation and laser ablation. MWA has several advantages over RFA including reduced procedural time, reduced heat‐sink effect, large ablation zones, decreased susceptibility to tissue impedance, and simultaneous use of multiple antennae. This review article highlights the most relevant updates of MWA for the treatment of early‐stage NSCLC, including mechanism of action, clinical outcomes, potential complications, the existing technique problems and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence support that microwave ablation (MWA) induces spontaneous abscopal regression of the tumor, also called as the abscopal effect. Although the abscopal effect after MWA is a rare event, several studies have suggested that this effect is the result of the activation of the immune system induced by the death of immunogenic tumor cells. Here, we have presented the case of a 65-year-old woman with primary endometrial cancer who developed bilateral pulmonary metastases. After local MWA of one lesion in her right lung, progressive regression of the other lesions in the right and left lungs was recorded. This case supports the hypothesis that the abscopal effect is attributable to the activation of the systemic immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camrelizumab is a programmed death receptor-1 inhibitor originally developed in China for the treatment of refractory lymphoma. It has also been effective in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. However, the rechallenge of camrelizumab was not reported previously. We report the rechallenge of camrelizumab therapy in two patients previously treated with microwave ablation (MWA) and camrelizumab. Although objective responses were achieved, camrelizumab therapy was discontinued because of the development of immune-related pneumonia (IRP). Treatment with camrelizumab was reinitiated after the patients recovered from IRP. The reoccurrence of more severe IRP necessitated additional corticosteroid therapy. The rechallenge of camrelizumab in patients treated with MWA plus camrelizumab regimen and who developed IRP should be cautious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Local therapy including surgery or radiotherapy has been reported for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with synchronous solitary metastasis, while studies with other local ablative treatment are rare. Here, we summarized our single-center experience of microwave ablation (MWA) for both primary and metastatic lesions in NSCLC patients with synchronous solitary extracranial metastases. Patients and methods: We retrospectively screened our institute database from January 2014 to Jun 2019. NSCLC patients with synchronous extracranial solitary metastasis with primary and metastatic lesions that were treated with MWA were identified and analyzed. Results: Of the 1472 stage IV NSCLC patients found, 38 were diagnosed with synchronous extracranial solitary metastasis and 29 of them received MWA for primary and metastatic lesions. The most common distant metastases were contralateral lung metastases (14 cases), followed by bone (6), liver (4), adrenal gland (3) and pleura metastases (1). Median OS and PFS was 21.5 and 12.5 months, respectively. Patients with N0 had significantly longer PFS (median 18.5 vs. 8.0 months) and OS (median 42.7 vs. 19.0 months). In addition, systemic therapy was showed to be a prognostic factor for better PFS (12.9 vs. 7.5 months). Clinical pathological factors including age, histology, T stage, PS score, and metastasis locations are not significantly associated with survival. Conclusions: MWA may serve as an alternative treatment for NSCLCs with synchronous solitary extracranial metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This prospective trial was performed to verify whether microwave ablation (MWA) in combination with chemotherapy could provide superior survival benefit compared with chemotherapy alone.Materials and Methods: From March 1, 2015, to June 20, 2017, treatment-naïve patients with pathologically verified advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomly assigned to MWA plus chemotherapy group or chemotherapy group. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while the secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), time to local progression (TTLP), and objective response rate (ORR). The complications and adverse events were also reported.Results: A total of 293 patients were randomly assigned into the two groups. One hundred forty-eight patients with 117 stage IV tumors were included in the MWA plus chemotherapy group. One hundred forty-five patients with 113 stage IV tumors were included in the chemotherapy group. The median follow-up period was 13.1 months and 12.4 months, respectively. Median PFS was 10.3 months (95% CI 8.0-13.0) in the MWA plus chemotherapy group and 4.9 months (95% CI 4.2-5.7) in the chemotherapy group (HR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.53; p < 0.0001). Median OS was not reached in the MWA plus chemotherapy group and 12.6 months (95% CI 10.6-14.6) in the chemotherapy group (HR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.27-0.53; p < 0.0001) using Kaplan-Meier analyses with log-rank test. The median TTLP was 24.5 months, and the ORR was 32% in both groups. The adverse event rate was not significantly different in the two groups.Conclusions: In patients with advanced NSCLC, longer PFS and OS can be achieved with the treatment of combined MWA and chemotherapy than chemotherapy alone.Key Points: • Patients treated with MWA plus chemotherapy had superior PFS and OS over those treated with chemotherapy alone. • The ORR of patients treated with MWA plus chemotherapy was similar to that of those treated with chemotherapy alone. • Complications associated with MWA were common but tolerable and manageable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aim to evaluate the efficacy, safety and survival time of microwave ablation (MWA) with adjuvant antiangiogenic therapy-endostatin in animal models. Material and methods: A total of 40 rabbits successfully implanted with VX2 tumors were randomly assigned to four experimental groups: Group A underwent only microwave ablation of the tumors; Group B received only antiangiogenic drugs endostatin; Group C received endostatin immediately after MWA; Group D followed up without treatment. Results: Two months post-treatment, tumor sizes of Group A and Group C were reduced to 1.936 ± 0.373 cm3 and 1.592 ± 0.382 cm3, respectively. However, tumors grew to 15.091 ± 1.735 cm3 and 47.825 ± 7.664 cm3 in Group B and the control group. Three months post-treatment, tumor sizes in Group A and Group C maintained as 1.395 ± 0.394 cm3 and 1.482 ± 0.305 cm3, significantly smaller than Group B (35.277 ± 6.019 cm3). All animals in the control group died, while four (40%) survived in Group B (Endo Group). The numbers of survivals in Groups A and C were seven (70%) and eight (80%), respectively. The lowest metastasis rate (2/10, 20%) was observed in Group C (combination therapy). Conclusion: The combination of MWA and antiangiogenic therapy triggered a significant reduction in the growth rate and metastases of tumors and may potentially improve survivals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the wide application of low-dose computed tomography (CT) and high-resolution CT, the increasing cases of pulmonary nodules are identified through routine thoracic imaging examination, many of which are presented as multiple ground-glass opacities (GGOs). The multiple GGOs could be divided into four pathological types and usually got different combined mutation patterns, suggesting that each GGO is an independent event and should be treated separately. However, there is no established guideline to the treatment of multiple GGOs so far. Here, we report a multiple GGOs case with a different mutation pattern treated by CT-guided percutaneous microwave ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the diagnostic ability of percutaneous core biopsy immediately after microwave ablation (MWA) for lung ground-glass opacity (GGO).Materials and Methods: Seventy-four patients with 74 lung GGOs were enrolled and treated with MWA. A percutaneous core needle biopsy was performed pre- and immediately post-MWA. All biopsy specimens were histologically examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunostaining. Histologically, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and invasive adenocarcinoma (AC) were identified as positive, while chronic inflammation or normal lung tissue was identified as negative.Results: The outcomes of pre-MWA histological diagnosis were AAH (n = 4), AIS (n = 16), MIA (n = 14), AC (n = 29), chronic inflammation (n = 2), and lung tissue (n = 9) with an 85.1% (63/74) positive diagnosis rate. The outcomes of the immediately post-MWA histological diagnosis were AAH (n = 5), AIS (n = 10), MIA (n = 11), AC (n = 29), chronic inflammation (n = 1), and lung tissue (n = 18) with a 74.3% (55/74) positive diagnosis rate. There was no significant difference in the positive diagnosis rate between the pre- and immediately post-MWA groups (P = 0.10). The outcomes of the combined diagnosis of pre- and immediately post-MWA were AAH (n = 4), AIS (n = 16), MIA (n = 16), AC (n = 31), chronic inflammation (n = 2), and lung tissue (n = 5) with a positive diagnosis rate of 90.5% (67/74), which was higher than that by pre-MWA biopsy (P < 0.05). The main complications were pneumothorax (n = 45, 60.8%), hemoptysis (n = 24, 32.4%), pleural effusion (n = 39, 52.7%), and pulmonary infection (n = 10, 13.5%).Conclusions: Immediately post-MWA core biopsy has promising efficacy for histological diagnosis of lung GGOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted this study to evaluate the correlation between PD-L1 or CD8+ TILs expression and MWA or survival in advanced NSCLC patients treated with microwave ablation (MWA) plus chemotherapy. Methods: Previously untreated, pathologically verified advanced NSCLC patients with adequate tissues for the analysis of PD-L1 expression and the presence of CD8+ TILs were retrospectively enrolled. None of the patients had sensitive mutations, and therefore, they were treated with MWA of the primary tumors followed by chemotherapy. Results: A total of 51 patients were enrolled. PD-L1 expression and the presence of CD8+ TILs were identified in 31 (60.8%) and 9 (17.6%) patients, respectively. PD-L1 expression and CD8+ TILs had no correlation with baseline characteristics, the response to chemotherapy or MWA. Patients with PD-L1 expression had similar progression-free survival (PFS: 7.9 months for PD-L1-positive vs. 5.8 months for PD-L1-negative; p = .660) and overall survival (OS: 18.7 months for PD-L1-positive vs. 15.2 months for PD-L1-negative; p = .901). Patients with CD8+ TIL expression did not show superior PFS (CD8+ TIL vs. CD8- TIL, 8.0 vs. 6.2 months, p = .435) or OS (CD8+ TIL vs. CD8- TIL, 20.5 vs. 16.9 months, p = .653). Conclusion: PD-L1 expression and the presence of CD8+ TILs could predict neither the patients' response to chemotherapy or MWA nor survival in advanced NSCLC patients treated with MWA plus chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for the treatment of ground-glass opacity (GGO)-lung adenocarcinoma.Materials and Methods: From December 2013 to June 2017, a total of 51 patients (22 males and 29 females, mean age of 69.4 ± 10.1 years) were included in this study, with 51 lung adenocarcinoma lesions showing GGO (mean long-axis diameter of 18.7 ± 6.05 mm). They received a total of 52 sessions of percutaneous computed tomography-guided (CT-guided) MWA. First, lung adenocarcinoma with GGO was histologically defined by needle biopsy under the guidance of CT. Second, the efficacy of CT-guided MWA was analyzed, including the feasibility, safety, 3 years local progression-free survival (LPFS), 3 years disease-specific survival, and 3 years overall survival (OS). Final, complications after MWA were also summarized.Results: The technical success rate was 100%, without MWA procedure-related death. At the median follow-up period (27.02, range: 7-45 months), the rates of 3 years LPFS, cancer-specific survival, and OS were 98%, 100%, and 96%, respectively. The complications after MWA included pneumothorax (48.1%, 25/52), hemoptysis (28.8%, 14/52), pleural effusion (23.1%, 12/52), and pulmonary infection (7.7%, 4/52).Conclusions: CT-guided percutaneous MWA was a feasible, safe, and effective therapeutic approach for treating GGO-lung adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To verify the association between EGFR status and clinical response to microwave ablation (MWA) and survival.Methods: NSCLC patients with known EGFR status and treated with MWA in combination with chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled in the study.Results: A total of 61 patients were recruited. EGFR mutations were found in 28 patients (39.4 %), and were more common in women (67.7 %) and nonsmokers (74.1 %). Complete ablation was achieved in 69.7 % of patients with EGFR mutant tumours and in 82.1 % of patients with EGFR wild-type tumours (p = 0.216). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 8.3 months and 27.2 months in patients with an EGFR mutant tumour. The corresponding values were 5.4 months (p = 0.162) and 17.8 months (p = 0.209) in patients with an EGFR wild-type tumour. Patients with complete ablation had longer PFS (7.8 months vs. 4.2 months, p = 0.024) and OS (28.1 months vs. 12.6 months, p = 0.001) than those with incomplete ablation. Multivariate analyses also showed that response to MWA was an independent prognostic factor for OS, but EGFR status was not, and that neither response to MWA nor EGFR status was a prognostic factor for PFS.Conclusions: The EGFR status was not related to response to MWA, and response to MWA was a predictor of survival.Key Points: • EGFR mutations were commonly seen in women and in nonsmokers • EGFR status had no correlation with the response to MWA, PFS and OS. • The response to MWA could predict PFS and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A squamous cell lung cancer patient was treated with pneumonectomy. A recurrent lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) was found 45 months later and successfully biopsied and treated with microwave ablation. After 18 months of follow up, no evidence of tumor recurrence was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]