[First reported case of lung metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma successfully treated by ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation using ultrasonic contrast agent].

BACKGROUND

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is becoming one of the useful options as a local control therapy for lung cancer. Almost all reported cases according to the RFA for lung cancer were performed by CT -guided technique. Only a limited number of articles have been published on ultrasound-guided RFA for lung cancer.

CASE

An 80-year-old man underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 2004. A 3.3 cm pulmonary nodule was pointed out in his right lower lobe on a chest CT examination in 2007. The nodule was diagnosed as a lung metastasis from HCC by core needle biopsy. He underwent CT-guided RFA. After three months, the lung metastasis progressed in the same location on the enhanced CT. Then an ultrasound-guided RFA using ultrasonic contrast agent (Sonazoid) was performed. We could distinguish between the necrotic lesion and the viable lesion using Sonazoid, and selective RFA for viable lesion became possible.

CONCLUSION

Sonazoid has been highly evaluated in the ultrasound-guided RFA for HCC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a lung cancer case successfully treated with ultrasound-guided RFA using Sonazoid.