Lung, Kidney, and Bone Ablation

Percutaneous ablation is a mainstay of oncologic treatment within numerous organ systems, including the respiratory, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal systems. Interventional radiologists can achieve excellent oncologic results for primary or metastatic disease utilizing a variety of modalities, such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation. Proper patient selection, procedural planning, and disease surveillance are parts of a successful ablation program. Published results support ablation of unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Thermal ablation of small renal carcinomas yields results approaching those of partial nephrectomy. Ablation has become a primary treatment for osteoid osteomas. Ablation of painful osseous metastases can provide tumor control, or palliative pain improvement, including in pathologic fractures where cement and hardware fixation may follow.