Thermal ablation of lung metastases in children: what every paediatric radiologist should know
Cassanelli, Giulia Deschamps, Frederic Gomez Munoz, Fernando McGuirk, Simon P
Cassanelli, Giulia
Deschamps, Frederic
Gomez Munoz, Fernando
McGuirk, Simon P
Abstract
Thermal ablation is increasingly used as a lung-sparing local treatment for selected children with pulmonary metastases, and diagnostic paediatric radiologists play a central role in lesion detection, procedural planning support, and post-treatment interpretation. This review focuses on the imaging appearance of pulmonary metastases before, during, and after percutaneous thermal ablation, highlighting the practical findings that every diagnostic radiologist should recognise. Pre-procedural imaging assessment is discussed with emphasis on lesion size, location, morphology, proximity to pleura, vessels and bronchi, and features that may affect feasibility, safety, and expected ablation margins. Intra-procedural imaging appearances are reviewed across the main techniques, including expected peri-lesional ground-glass change during heat-based ablation and ice-ball formation during cryoablation, with attention to imaging endpoints that suggest adequate target coverage and to findings that may indicate incomplete treatment or early complications. Post-ablation evolution is summarised from immediate computed tomography (CT) to short- and long-term follow-up, including expected changes in ablation zone size, density and contour, and the temporal patterns that help distinguish normal post-treatment appearances from residual viable tumour or local recurrence. Common interpretative pitfalls-such as inflammatory change, haemorrhage, atelectatic/parenchymal distortion, and pleural reaction-are addressed, together with practical reporting recommendations to improve communication within the multidisciplinary oncology team. By providing an imaging-centred framework, this article aims to support more confident and consistent interpretation of ablated lung lesions in children.
MIDER Authors
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Date
2026-06-30
Type
Article
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Citation
Cassanelli G, Deschamps F, Gomez Munoz F, McGuirk SP. Thermal ablation of lung metastases in children: what every paediatric radiologist should know. Pediatr Radiol. 2026 Jun 30. doi: 10.1007/s00247-026-06700-4. Epub ahead of print.