Radiologists Take FDA Warning on Lung Ablation in Stride

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 1 -- The FDA's recent warning about deaths caused by radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors was more a note of caution than a mortal blow to the procedure, said interventional radiologists experienced with the technique. The warning may simply signal that the procedure is in the midst of the awkward 'tween years, said Christos Georgiades, M.D., Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins. "Based on the experience of many physicians, including myself," he said, "we know this procedure can offer huge benefits to selected patients."
He characterized the warning as "something that all procedures and all specialties go through. We are sort of living in a grey zone right now."
The FDA's Dec. 11 notice cautioned that radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors had caused deaths reported both to the agency's MedWatch voluntary reporting program and in the literature.
"Patient selection, subsequent treatment, and technical use of the RF device, including placement and operation, may have contributed to the fatalities," according to the notice.

full article >> http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonary/LungCancer/tb/8111