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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2014; 20(4): 988-996
Published online Jan 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i4.988
Published online Jan 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i4.988
Radiofrequency ablation as treatment for pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer
Takao Hiraki, Hideo Gobara, Toshihiro Iguchi, Hiroyasu Fujiwara, Yusuke Matsui, Susumu Kanazawa, Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Author contributions: Hiraki T contributed to literature review, manuscript writing, and final revision of the article; Gobara H, Iguchi T, Fujiwara H, Matsui Y and Kanazawa S contributed to literature review, significant revisions to drafts of the article, and approval of the final revision of the article.
Correspondence to: Takao Hiraki, MD, Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. takaoh@tc4.so-net.ne.jp
Telephone: +81-86-2357313 Fax: +81-86-2357316
Received: September 17, 2013
Revised: November 29, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: January 28, 2014
Processing time: 132 Days and 8.1 Hours
Revised: November 29, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: January 28, 2014
Processing time: 132 Days and 8.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer is technically simple. The procedure rarely results in death. The most common complication is pneumothorax, which occurs in up to 50% of patients. Severe complications are rare. Local progression after RFA is not rare and occurs in 10% or more of cases. The short- to mid-term survival after RFA appears promising and is approximately 85%-95% at 1 year and 45%-55% at 3 years. Long-term survival data are sparse. Better survival may be expected for patients with small metastasis, low carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and/or no extrapulmonary metastasis.