Maria Paola Belfiore1, Mariacarmela Sciandra2, Francesco Romano3, Tommaso Tartaglione2, Guido De Lucia4, Tullio Della Volpe5, Carmela Buonomo6, Salvatore Cappabianca7, Antonio Rotondo7, Giuseppe Belfiore8. 1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara" Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: mariapaolabelfiore@gmail.com. 2. Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Science, "A. Gemelli" Hospital-Catholic University, Rome. 3. Department of Health Physics, "F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara" Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80131 Naples, Italy. 4. Department of Oncology, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy. 5. Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy. 6. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy. 7. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara" Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80131 Naples, Italy. 8. Department of Pathology, "S. Anna-S. Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To retrospectively determine whether the application of thermal ablation to recurrent and advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) could allow for local tumor control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2002 to 2014, 22 patients (17 men and 5 women; mean age, 64 y; age range, 42-88 y) with unresectable HNC lesions treated with thermal ablation were evaluated. Patients were followed at 3 and 6 months after treatment, every 6 months for 5 years, and yearly thereafter with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The mean follow-up period was 32.2 months (range, 3-51 mo). RESULTS: Three of 22 patients with primary lesions are still alive; two of these patients were treated with radiofrequency (RF) ablation and one was treated with microwave (MW) ablation. Of the 19 remaining patients, four were treated with MW ablation and 15 were treated with RF ablation. Imaging revealed partial response in eight patients, and complete response was observed in the remaining 14. There were two major complications after ablation treatment. The mean survival time was 32.9 months ± 3.205 (standard error; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26.6-39.2 mo). The survival time for MW ablation cases (36 mo ± 5.185; 95% CI, 25.8-46.16 mo) was longer than for RF ablation (32.2 mo ± 3.911; 95% CI, 24.5-39.8 mo), although the CI overlap between the groups is large. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous thermal ablation is a promising alternative treatment for local control of incurable HNC.
PURPOSE: To retrospectively determine whether the application of thermal ablation to recurrent and advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) could allow for local tumor control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2002 to 2014, 22 patients (17 men and 5 women; mean age, 64 y; age range, 42-88 y) with unresectable HNC lesions treated with thermal ablation were evaluated. Patients were followed at 3 and 6 months after treatment, every 6 months for 5 years, and yearly thereafter with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The mean follow-up period was 32.2 months (range, 3-51 mo). RESULTS: Three of 22 patients with primary lesions are still alive; two of these patients were treated with radiofrequency (RF) ablation and one was treated with microwave (MW) ablation. Of the 19 remaining patients, four were treated with MW ablation and 15 were treated with RF ablation. Imaging revealed partial response in eight patients, and complete response was observed in the remaining 14. There were two major complications after ablation treatment. The mean survival time was 32.9 months ± 3.205 (standard error; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26.6-39.2 mo). The survival time for MW ablation cases (36 mo ± 5.185; 95% CI, 25.8-46.16 mo) was longer than for RF ablation (32.2 mo ± 3.911; 95% CI, 24.5-39.8 mo), although the CI overlap between the groups is large. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous thermal ablation is a promising alternative treatment for local control of incurable HNC.