Ablative Treatments for Lung Tumors: Radiofrequency Ablation, Stereotactic Radiosurgery, and Microwave Ablation

New alternatives to standard external beam radiation therapy are now entering clinical practice for the treatment of lung cancer or limited pulmonary metastases in medically inoperable patients. The two principal modalities that are being offered by many centers around the world are radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic radiosurgery. Another ablative modality, microwave ablation, is also being introduced into practice, although current clinical experience is very limited with this new approach. This article reviews these therapies and discusses their role in the treatment of thoracic malignancies.