MR-Guided Microwave Ablation for Lung Malignant Tumor: A Single Center Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively investigate the feasibility and efficacy of MRI-guided MWA for lung malignant tumor in our single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 22 patients [mean age, 56.86 ± 13.05(23–73)years] with 23 malignant lung tumors were enrolled in the study. 21 patients had a single lesion and 1 patient had 2 lesions in the ipsilateral lung. The average maximum diameter of the lesion was 1.26 ± 0.65 (0.50-2.58)cm. Percutaneous MWA was guided by 1.5T MRI scanner using a MR-compatible microwave antenna to the target the lung lesions and ablation area was monitored intraoperatively by using a shielded MR-compatible microwave device and then follow-up. RESULTS: All patients were successfully treated under MR-guided MWA for lung tumors. Average operation time was 72.21 ± 24.99 (36–158) mins. T2WI signal intensity of the lesion gradually decreased over the course of MWA. The center of the ablated zones showed a short T1 and short T2 signals with the ring-like of long T1 and long T2 signals surrounded after immediately evaluation. No serious complications occurred. The average follow-up period was 12.89 ± 4.33 (2.0-19.6) months. Local recurrence occurred in one patient, representing a technical efficacy of 95.5% (21/22). CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance-guided microwave ablation for lung malignant tumor was feasible and demonstrated unique advantages in efficacy evaluation.