Abstract
Chemical ablation with acetic acid or ethanol is effective against hepatocellular carcinoma and therefore its application in peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be beneficial. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous chemical ablation using acetic acid or ethanol in peripheral NSCLC cases. This was a prospective randomized control study conducted at the Chest and Clinical Oncology Departments, Mansoura, Egypt, from 2011 to 2014. Thirty-three patients were included with a mean age of 60 years, and were randomly divided into three groups: group A (acetic acid plus chemotherapy group) consisted of nine patients; group B (ethanol plus chemotherapy group) consisted of nine patients; and the control group C (chemotherapy alone group) consisted of 15 patients. Patients who were operable, who had tumors infiltrating the main stem bronchi or mediastinum, and those who refused to complete the study were excluded. Clinical and radiological data were evaluated before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment. There was a significant reduction in both cough score and chest pain in group A after 6 months of treatment, in the hemoptysis score in group A and group B after 6 months of treatment, and in dyspnea score in groups A and B after 3 and 6 months of treatment. There was a statistically significant difference in the tumor response results in both groups after 3 and 6 months of treatment when compared with the control group. There were one or more immediate complications but all were controllable with no mortality. Survival was better in groups A and B than in the control group. The cost of acetic acid and ethanol palliation for each patient was 10 $US. Chemical ablation is an effective and inexpensive adjuvant palliative treatment for patients with inoperable peripheral NSCLC.
Highlights
Chemical ablation with acetic acid or ethanol is effective against hepatocellular carcinoma and its application in peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be beneficial
There were four patients at stage IIIa and five patients at stage IIIb. These patients were subjected to intratumoral acetic acid injection plus systemic chemotherapy
There were six patients at stage IIIA and three patients at stage IIIb. These patients were subjected to intratumoral ethanol injection plus systemic chemotherapy
Summary
Chemical ablation with acetic acid or ethanol is effective against hepatocellular carcinoma and its application in peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be beneficial. 75% of patients with lung cancer presented with locally advanced or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis [2]. Surgery carries the most favorable response, but in inoperable patients tumor debulking increases survival using multiple modalities in the management of peripheral lung cancer [3]. Many ablative techniques are used for palliation of peripherally situated lung cancer,such as radiofrequency and microwave [4]. Percutaneous chemical ablation is an established, effective technique, easy to perform, requires no specialized equipment for ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma, is well tolerated by patients, and is associated with a low complication rate [5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
