Abstract
The present article describes two cases of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) occurring after radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors. Both procedures were carried out using expandable multitined electrodes, with no coagulation of the needle track. After both ablations, ground-glass opacities encompassed the nodules and abutted the visceral pleura. The first patient had a delayed pneumothorax, and the second had a recurrent pneumothorax. Both cases of BPF were diagnosed on follow-up computed tomography chest scans (i.e., visibility of a distinct channel between the lung or a peripheral bronchus and the pleura) and were successfully treated with chest tubes alone. Our goal is to highlight the fact that BPF can occur without needle-track coagulation and to suggest that minimally invasive treatment is sufficient to cure BPFs of this specific origin.
MeSH terms
-
Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging
-
Adenocarcinoma / secondary
-
Adenocarcinoma / surgery
-
Adolescent
-
Bone Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
-
Bone Neoplasms / surgery
-
Bronchial Fistula / diagnostic imaging
-
Bronchial Fistula / etiology*
-
Bronchial Fistula / therapy
-
Catheter Ablation / adverse effects*
-
Catheter Ablation / instrumentation
-
Chest Tubes
-
Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
-
Colorectal Neoplasms / surgery
-
Female
-
Fistula / diagnostic imaging
-
Fistula / etiology*
-
Fistula / therapy
-
Humans
-
Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
-
Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
-
Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
-
Male
-
Middle Aged
-
Osteosarcoma / diagnostic imaging
-
Osteosarcoma / secondary
-
Osteosarcoma / surgery
-
Pleural Diseases / diagnostic imaging
-
Pleural Diseases / etiology*
-
Pleural Diseases / therapy
-
Pneumothorax / diagnostic imaging
-
Pneumothorax / etiology
-
Pneumothorax / therapy
-
Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
-
Postoperative Complications / etiology*
-
Postoperative Complications / therapy
-
Recurrence
-
Tomography, X-Ray Computed