Effectiveness and safety of percutaneous microwave ablation and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of pulmonary metastasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) versus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of pulmonary metastasis. A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception through October 2023. Studies comparing MWA and RFA for pulmonary metastasis were included. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4, incorporating a total of six articles comprising 1407 ablations.The complete ablation rate was significantly higher in the MWA group compared to the RFA group (OR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.33-4.37; P = 0.004), and recurrence was markedly lower with MWA (OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08-0.94; P = 0.04). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of overall survival or major complications.MWA demonstrates superior efficacy to RFA in achieving complete ablation and reducing recurrence in the treatment of pulmonary metastasis, with comparable safety profiles between the two techniques.