Anyone knows eligibility criteria for lung RFA?
Relatively recent paper in Lancet Oncology June 18, 2008 :
Response to radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary tumours:
a prospective, intention-to-treat, multicentre clinical trial
(the RAPTURE study)
Inclusion criteria were: age greater than 18 years; biopsy-proven
NSCLC or lung metastasis; patients rejected for surgery
and considered unfi t for radiotherapy or chemotherapy;
up to three tumours per lung, each 3·5 cm or smaller in
greatest diameter, detected by CT; tumours located at least
1 cm from trachea, main bronchi, oesophagus, aorta,
aortic arch branches, main, right, or left pulmonary artery,
and heart; tumours accessible by percutaneous route;
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance
status of 0, 1, or 2; platelet count greater than 100×109/L;
and international normalised ratio of 1·5 or less.
Exclusion criteria were: previous pneumonectomy;
patients considered high-risk for radiofrequency ablation
because of major comorbid medical conditions (comorbid
conditions have not been listed, because the same
comorbid condition can be associated with diff erent
levels of risk depending on the overall general condition
of the patient); more than three tumours per lung; at
least one tumour more than 3·5 cm in greatest diameter;
tumours associated with atelectasis or obstructive
pneumonitis; renal failure needing haemodialysis or
peritoneal dialysis; active clinically serious infection;
history of organ allograft; history of substance abuse or
any medical, psychological, or social conditions that
might interfere with the patients participation in the
study or assessment of the study fi ndings; patients who
were pregnant or breast-feeding; ECOG performance
status of more than 2; platelet counts less than or equal