Radiofrequency ablation for lung squamous cell carcinoma in a single-lung patient: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: High morbidity and high mortality are the main features of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Radiofrequency ablation, which produces a large amount of heat to kill tumor cells, is one effective way to treat this disease. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report the case of a 74-year-old man who presented with a 1-month history of right chest pain. His left lung was removed 12 years prior. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass in the right lower lobe. DIAGNOSES: An excision biopsy of the mass showed lung squamous cell carcinoma. INTERVENTIONS: We performed radiofrequency ablation. OUTCOMES: The patient underwent 3.5 and 10 months of follow-up, with a partial response and complete remission, respectively. LESSONS: CT-guided radiofrequency ablation is a safe and an effective minimally invasive treatment option. Radiofrequency appears to be a valuable alternative to surgery for inoperable patients presenting with a single-lung NSCLC.

Fondaparinux vs. enoxaparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip replacement: A meta-analysis.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety profiles of fondaparinux and enoxaparin in preventing the venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total hip replacement. A systematic literature search in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases was performed to identify relevant articles published in English since inception up to November 16, 2014. The efficacy outcomes were all VTE, total deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and symptomatic VTE, while the safety outcome was major bleeding. Four eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. The incidences of total VTEs and DVTs were significantly decreased with the use of fondaparinux when compared to enoxaparin [total VTE: risk ratio (RR)=0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46-0.74, P<0.01; total DVT: RR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.46-0.74, P<0.01]. Significantly fewer symptomatic VTEs and major bleeding cases were observed for the enoxaparin group (symptomatic VTE: RR=2.62, 95% CI: 1.07-6.45, P=0.04; major bleeding: RR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.20-2.53, P<0.01). In conclusion, the pooled analysis revealed that, compared to enoxaparin, fondaparinux was significantly more effective in preventing VTE after total hip replacements in terms of total VTEs and DVTs, although this was accompanied with an increased risk of major bleeding. However, the pooled analysis of two small sample trials from Japan failed to demonstrate any significant advantage for fondaparinux compared to enoxaparin.