Treatment of medically inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer with stereotactic body radiation therapy versus image-guided tumor ablation: can interventional radiology compete?

Patients with medically inoperable stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer have treatment options that include image-guided tumor ablation or stereotactic body radiation therapy. Literature to date with both techniques suggests similar overall survival; however, local control rates appear to be higher with SBRT. It is important for interventional radiologists to understand the differences and similarities between these two techniques. Future research is important to determine which patients would benefit from these therapies. This review summarizes the two techniques and available clinical literature, provides relevant commentary, and suggests future directions for research in this area.