Catastrophic complications following cryoablation of lung cancer

Abstract

Image-guided cryoablation has low procedure-related morbidity and mortality rates, with the complications usually being self-limiting. The most common complications include pneumothorax, hemoptysis, pleural effusion, cough, phrenic nerve injury, and tumor implantation. Bronchopleural or bronchocutaneous fistula formation is a rare but severe complication of lung cancer ablation. We report a patient with non–small cell lung cancer who developed a bronchocutaneous fistula, persistent empyema, and chest wall abscess a month after cryoablation. With this case report, we aim to sensitize physicians to such complications.

Keywords:

• Bronchocutaneous fistula
• empyema
• lung cancer
• multifocal pneumonia
• percutaneous cryoablation
• pneumothorax