Percutaneous management of pulmonary metastases arising from colorectal cancer; a systematic review

BackgroundRadiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a well-established treatment modality for colorectal hepatic metastases, the success of which has prompted its use to treat other lesions such as colorectal pulmonary metastases (CRPM). Our aim was to perform a systematic review of the evidence and to assess the safety and effectiveness of ablative techniques in the management of CRPM.MethodA literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Google scholar databases to identify studies, which analysed ablative techniques and their effectiveness in the management of CRPM. The primary outcome measures were overall survival, local recurrence rates and disease free survival. Secondary outcome measures were complication (major/minor), chest drain insertion rates and follow up duration.ResultsEight studies were included in the review with a total of 903 patients and all of which used RFA for ablation. Mortality from ablation was <1% with overall survival ranging from 31 to 67 months. 1, 3 and 5 year survival ranges of 84–95%, 35–72% and 20–54% respectively. Local progression following ablation ranged from 9 to 21%. Major complication rates were noted in 0.5%–8% of patients with minor complications ranging between 7% and 33%. 23% of patients required chest drain insertion post procedure.Conclusions: RFA is a safe and effective technique for the management of CRPM. However, in the absence of large randomised controlled trials it is unclear where RFA should sit in the treatment algorithm for patients with CRPM.