TABLE 3.
Results of Head and Neck Ablations in Chronological Order
| Patient # | Complications | Technical Success* | Follow-up Imaging Length | Follow-up Imaging Modality | Follow-up Clinical Length | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minimal hoarseness and dysphagia; resolved over several weeks | Yes | 18 months | CT | 18 months | Imaging: No FDG-avid recurrence at the ablation site; increasing size of right level 2 and 3 lymph nodes Clinical: No symptoms |
| 1 | None | Yes | 4 months | CT | 5 months | Imaging: Involution of both lesions Clinical: Death reportedly from “natural causes” |
| 2 | None | Yes | 3 months | PET-CT | 3 months | Imaging: Enlarging residual/recurrent disease Clinical: No symptoms, plan for second ablation |
| 3 | Post-procedure abscess requiring surgical debridement | Yes | - | - | 1 week | Imaging: None available. Clinical: No residual viable tumor in the ablation bed per outside hospital surgical report |
| 4 | None | Yes | 3 months | CT | 5 months | Imaging: Necrosis in ablation bed with patent vessels; increased bulk of residual tumor peripheral to the ablation zone Clinical: Deceased while on hospice |
| 5 | None | Yes | 1 month | CT (report only) | 3 months | Imaging: New nasopharyngeal lesion, no mention of ablation areas. Clinical: Completed additional radiation therapy, no symptoms |
| 2 | Bradycardia with severe hypotension; resolved with discontinuation of the procedure | No | - | - | 6 months | Imaging: No further imaging performed Clinical: Home hospice; No neck pain and no neck or neurological symptoms |
| 6 | None | Yes | 3 months | MRI | 3 months | Imaging: Residual 1.1 cm lobulation along lateral edge of ablation zone Clinical: Complete reported subjective pain relief, plan for ablation of residual tumor |
| 7 | None | Yes | 1 month | CT | 2 months | Imaging: Regions of necrosis in the ablation zone but increased leftward extent of non-ablation portion of mass Clinical: Partial reported subjective pain relief with slow subsequent return to baseline pain over approximately 2 months |
*
Technical success determined by whether the ablation zone included the targeted tumor volume on intraprocedural imaging. Outcomes do not all correlate with technical success of the procedure.