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The MGH Thoracic Surgery division along with Thoracic Radiology supports a program of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for early stage lung cancer in patients who are deemed non-surgical candidates.  This minimally invasive form of tumor ablation delivers thermal energy via a needle under computed tomography (CT) guidance.
Who Is RFA Right For?
Patients are carefully selected and screened by a multidisciplinary team of lung cancer specialists including thoracic surgery, thoracic oncology and thoracic radiology.
The clearest indication for use of RFA is in incidental or screen-detected early stage lung cancer where the tumor is smaller than 3 cm, and there is no evidence of regional or distant spread.
Although this treatment strategy is still considered experimental, the short-term results are encouraging for tumors smaller than 3 cm. The procedure is extremely safe with a very low complication rate.
How Is RFA Done?
Almost all RFA procedures can be performed in an outpatient setting (24 hours of observation), mostly with the patient receiving conscious sedation. A number of medical centers now use the procedure, and a multicenter pilot study including 15 institutions has just commenced. The MGH participates in this study, and has already accumulated a large experience with this technique. (See selected references.)
Contact Us
Please call 617-726-6751 for information or evaluation.
Michael Lanuti, MD, Division of Thoracic Surgery
JoAnne Shepard, MD, Chief, Division of Thoracic Radiology
Amita Sharma, MD, Division of Thoracic Radiology
Selected References
Lanuti M, Digumarthy SR, Sharma A, Martino J, Shepard JO, Mathisen DJ. Radiofrequency ablation for cure of inoperable lung cancer: A single institution experience. Data presented at American College of Chest Physicians, Salt Lake City, Utah, October, 2006.
Fuerst, Mark L. Radiofrequency Ablation Promising for Inoperable Lung Cancer. Oncology Times. 28(24):51-53, December 25, 2006.
(An article about radiofrequency ablation and a study at MGH)
Dupuy DE, Zagoria RJ, Akerley W, Mayo-Smith WW, Kavanagh PV, Safran H. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of malignancies in the lung. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2000; 174(1): 57-9.
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