Lung Ablation Services

Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure used to destroy tumor tissue by applying either intense heat or cold to the tumor. Valley Hospital performs Percutaneous Ablation for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer in medically inoperable patients. Eligible patients include those with lung tumors or early-stage or recurrent lung cancer.

How Ablation Works

One or more thin needles are placed in or around the tumor. Surgeons use computed tomography to help guide them as they place the needles, which produce extreme heat or cold to destroy the cancerous cells.

If the tumor is larger than three centimeters, external beam radiation may also be used to treat the tumor.

Benefits of Lung Ablation

• Lung ablations is less invasive than open surgery with fewer side effects and complications. No surgical incision is needed.
• Effectively destroys the central part of the tumor, which tends to not respond well to radiotherapy.
• Can be used on patients who are not candidates for surgery, such as those who have multiple tumors.
• Lung function is better preserved after ablation than after surgical removal of a tumor.
• If a tumor comes back, the procedure can be repeated if necessary.
• Chemotherapy may resume almost immediately after ablation.

Risks of Lung Ablation

Complications from having lung ablation are rare, but there is always a risk with any procedure. The risks of ablation include:

• Air leak in the lung
• Collapsed lung
• Coughing up blood
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Pain in the chest wall

*Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if minimally invasive surgery is right for you.