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Review
. 2015 Dec;6(6):685-92.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2078-6891.2015.095.

Percutaneous ablation of colorectal lung metastases

Carole A Ridge  1 , Stephen B Solomon  1
Affiliations
Review

Percutaneous ablation of colorectal lung metastases

Carole A Ridge et al. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Lung metastasectomy can prolong survival in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Thermal ablation offers a potential solution with similar reported survival outcomes. It has minimal effect on pulmonary function, or quality of life, can be repeated, and may be considered more acceptable to patients because of the associated shorter hospital stay and recovery. This review describes the indications, technique, reported outcomes, complications and radiologic appearances after thermal ablation of colorectal lung metastases.

Keywords: Ablation techniques; colorectal neoplasms; interventional; neoplasm metastasis; radiology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Benefits of thermal ablation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Axial CT images of a 62-year-old patient with a left lower lobe adenocarcinoma (A). Typical perilesional concentric rings of varying density, often referred to as the cockade phenomenon, are observed on CT 1 month after the procedure (B). Contrast enhanced CT performed 2 years later demonstrates a rounded low attenuation nodule without focal enhancement or enlargement (C,D) since the initial post ablation CT. CT, computed tomography.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Expected CT appearances after thermal ablation. (A) Axial CT images of a 73-year-old patient with a left lower lobe adenocarcinoma; (B) at 3 months after radiofrequency ablation atelectasis is seen at the ablation zone. CT, computed tomography.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Expected PET-CT appearances after thermal ablation. Unenhanced CT (A), fused (B) and unfused PET-CT (C) images of a left upper lobe adenocarcinoma 4 months after radiofrequency ablation exhibit a halo of mild peripheral tracer uptake in the ablation zone with central photopenia, referred to as a bullseye appearance, indicating successful ablation. CT, computed tomography.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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