Efficacy and safety of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation as a surgical alternative for multiple pulmonary nodules
10.12025/j.issn.1008-6358.2026.20251490
- VernacularTitle:CT引导下射频消融术作为多发肺结节手术替代方案的疗效与安全性
- Author:
Changhui MA
1
;
Bin ZHANG
1
;
Linxiang YU
1
;
Zhong GUAN
1
;
Junyi YANG
1
;
Haiwen ZHEN
1
Author Information
1. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.
- Publication Type:Originalarticle
- Keywords:
multiple pulmonary nodules;
radiofrequency ablation;
video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery;
alternative therapy;
minimally invasive treatment
- From:
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine
2026;33(2):299-305
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as an alternative for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in treating multiple pulmonary nodules. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 113 patients with multiple pulmonary nodules admitted to Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2020 to October 2022. The patients were divided into the RFA group (n＝50) and the VATS group (n＝63) based on the treatment method. Perioperative indicators (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of hospital stay), oncological outcomes (recurrence-free survival [RFS], overall survival [OS]), and postoperative complication rates were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors. Results The operation time in the RFA group was significantly shorter than that in the VATS group ([75.2±20.1] min vs [102.3±28.7]) min, P＜0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed in intraoperative blood loss and postoperative length of hospital stay. After follow-up of 24 (12, 30) months, no statistically significant differences were found in RFS (HR＝1.25, P＝0.445) or OS (HR＝1.42, P＝0.402) between the two groups. Mixed ground-glass nodules with high solid component and solid nodule were identified as independent risk factors for RFS (HR＝2.44, P＝0.023; HR＝2.97, P＝0.007) and OS (HR＝2.87, P＝0.022; HR＝3.43, P＝0.005) in patients with multiple pulmonary nodules. The total complication rate in the RFA group was lower than that in the VATS group (12.0% vs 34.9%, P＝0.009). Conclusions The efficacy of CT-guided RFA in treating multiple pulmonary nodules is comparable to that of VATS, with good safety, and it shows promise as an alternative to surgical treatment for multiple pulmonary nodules.
