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Purpose: To retrospectively examine the imaging characteristics of chest-computed tomography (CT) following percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of the ground-glass nodule (GGN)-like lung cancer and its dynamic evolution over time. Materials and Methods: From June 2020 to May 2021, 147 patients with 152 GGNs (51 pure GGNs and 101 mixed GGNs, mean size 15.0 ± 6.3 mm) were enrolled in this study. One hundred and forty-seven patients underwent MWA procedures. The imaging characteristics were evaluated at predetermined time intervals: immediately after the procedure, 24–48 h, 1, 3, 6, 12, and ≥18 months (47 GGNs). Results: This study population included 147 patients with 152 GGNs, as indicated by the results: 43.5% (66/152) adenocarcinoma in situ, 41.4% (63/152) minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, and 15.1% (23/152) invasive adenocarcinoma. Immediate post-procedure tumor-level analysis revealed that the most common CT features were ground-glass opacities (93.4%, 142/152), hyperdensity within the nodule (90.7%, 138/152), and fried egg sign or reversed halo sign (46.7%, 71/152). Subsequently, 24–48 h post-procedure, ground-glass attenuations, hyperdensity, and the fried egg sign remained the most frequent CT findings, with incidence rates of 75.0% (114/152), 71.0% (108/152), and 54.0% (82/152), respectively. Cavitation, pleural thickening, and consolidation were less frequent findings. At 1 month after the procedure, consolidation of the ablation region was the most common imaging feature. From 3 to 12 months after the procedure, the most common imaging characteristics were consolidation, involutional parenchymal bands and pleural thickening. At ≥18 months after the procedure, imaging features of the ablation zone revealed three changes: involuting fibrosis (80.8%, 38/47), consolidation nodules (12.8%, 6/47), and disappearance (6.4%, 3/47). Conclusions: This study outlined the anticipated CT imaging characteristics of GGN-like lung cancer following MWA. Diagnostic and interventional radiologists should be familiar with the expected imaging characteristics and dynamic evolution post-MWA in order to interpret imaging changes with a reference image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the changes in pulmonary function after computed tomography (CT)‑guided microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with a malignant lung tumor. Materials and Methods: From June 2020 to January 2022, 133 patients with a malignant lung tumor who underwent CT‑guided percutaneous MWA were included in the study. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed before (the baseline) and 1 month after the MWA. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1%, maximum mid‑expiratory flow (MMEF), and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO‑SB) at 1 month post MWA were compared with that at the baseline. The time of procedure and post‑procedure length of hospital stay were also recorded. Results: The mean VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, MMEF, and DLCO‑SB at the baseline and 1 month post MWA were 3.23 ± 0.75 and 3.22 ± 0.77 (P = 0.926), 3.20 ± 0.75 and 3.21 ± 0.77 (P = 0.702), 2.35 ± 0.70 and 2.35 ± 0.71 (P = 0.992), 91.97 ± 23.14 and 91.87 ± 23.16 (P = 0.837), 1.83 ± 0.93 and 1.81 ± 0.95 (P = 0.476), and 6.38 ± 1.67 and 6.32 ± 1.62 (P = 0.389), respectively. There was no significant difference in the PFT results before and 1 month post MWA. The mean time of procedure and post‑MWA length of hospital stay were 33 min and 2.5 days, respectively. Conclusions: MWA is a lung parenchyma‑sparing local treatment, and pulmonary function at 1 month post MWA was not statistically different from the baseline, indicating that MWA may not affect pulmonary function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microwave ablation (MWA) of lung tumors is a technique that is dependent on the ablationist’s level of expertise. The selection of the optimum puncture path and determination of appropriate ablative parameters is the key to the success and safe of the procedure. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical use of a novel three‑dimensional visualization ablation planning system (3D‑VAPS) for aided MWA of stage I non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: This was a single‑arm, single‑center, retrospective study. From May 2020 to July 2022, 113 consented patients with stage I NSCLC received MWA treatment in 120 MWA sessions. The 3D‑VAPS was used to determine that: (1) the overlap between the gross tumor region and simulated ablation; (2) the proper posture and appropriate puncture site on the surface of the body; (3) the puncture path; and (4) presetting preliminarily ablative parameters. Patients were monitored with contrast‑enhanced CT scans at 1, 3, and 6 months, as well as every 6 months following that. The primary endpoints were technical success and a complete ablation rate. Local progression‑free survival (LPFS), overall survival (OS), and comorbidities were secondary study objectives. Results: The mean diameter of tumors was 1.9 ± 0.4 cm (range 0.9‑2.5 cm). The mean duration was 5.34 ± 1.28 min (range 3.0–10.0 min). The mean power output was 42.58 ± 4.23 (range 30.0-50.0W). The median follow‑up time was 19.0 months (6.0‑26.0 months). The technical success rate was 100%. Three‑month after the procedure, the complete ablation rate was 97.35%. 6, 9, 12, and 24 months LPFS rates were 100%, 98.23%, 98.23%, and 96.46%, respectively. One‑year and 2‑year OS rates were 100% and 100%. There were no patients who died both during the procedure and after the MWA of 30 days. The complications after MWA included pneumothorax (38.33%), pleural effusion (26.67%), intrapulmonary hemorrhage (31.67%), and pulmonary infection (2.50%). Conclusions: This research describes and confirms that 3D‑VAPS is a feasibility and safe method for MWA of stage I NSCLC treatment. 3D‑VAPS may be helpful to optimize the puncture path, assess reasonable ablative parameters, and minimize complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]