The first lung cancer cryoablation treatment in Poland

On June 15 this year. a team of interventional radiologists from the 2nd Department of Radiology of UCK WUM, led by prof. Olgierda Rowiński conducted the first lung cancer cryoablation procedure in Poland. The team was composed of: Krzysztof Milczarek, Dariusz Konecki and Grzegorz Rosiak (interventional radiologists), Alicja Kwiatkowska (anesthesiologist), Piotr Wesołowski (anesthesiologist), Magda Sobotka (electroradiologist). The patient is led by Joanna Raszeja-Wyszomirska (hepatologist).

The patient has previously received a liver transplant because of hepatocellular carcinoma. Transplantation was successful, but after 5 years a small (8 mm) metastasis of this tumor appeared in the lung. The operation would be an extensive procedure, with a higher risk of complications and a longer stay in the hospital. In order to reduce the risk, which is especially important in a transplant patient whose immunity is constantly weakened, it was decided to perform minimally invasive cryoablation.

The cryoablation procedure consisted of inserting two needles through the skin into a lump in the lung. The tips of the needles were cooled to -120 degrees Celsius. After several cycles of freezing and thawing, the nodule was destroyed. Since the procedure was performed under the control of computed tomography, the doctors had a constant view of the chest organs, lump and needles. The procedure was uneventful. After the treatment, there were two minor sting marks left on the skin. The patient is scheduled for discharge tomorrow.

Cryoablation is a method that belongs to a wide range of interventional radiology procedures used in cancer patients. It is used to treat patients with tumors of the lungs, kidneys, bones and soft tissues. The advantages of this method include: very high efficiency (approx. 90% for small nodules) and safety. The rate of serious complications is several times lower than with surgical methods. The procedure involves a short hospital stay and does not deteriorate lung function or quality of life.

In other European countries (eg France or Great Britain), typically several hundred such procedures are performed annually. Unfortunately, in Poland - as indicated by radiologists in their report - the delay in the availability of interventional radiology for cancer patients is 15-20 years compared to Western countries, despite the fact that these methods have long been recommended by international guidelines. Radiologists estimate that about 90% of patients are not treated with interventional radiology although they should and are waiting for the decision of the Ministry of Health on a number of procedures: cryoablation of tumors of the kidney, lung and bone, as well as thermal ablation of the lung, bone and adrenal glands.

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