BackTable / Tumor Board / Podcast / Episode #38

Lung Ablation: Techniques, Challenges & Best Practices

with Dr. Alan Lee, Dr. Scott Oh, and Dr. Rob Suh

Collaboration between interventional radiology and radiation oncology has enabled high-dose brachytherapy in central lung lesions that were previously untreatable. This episode of the 2025 NSCLC Creator Weekend™ series offers a deep dive into recent advancements in lung ablation and brachytherapy techniques for primary lung cancer.

This podcast is supported by an educational grant from Johnson & Johnson and Varian.

Johnson & Johnson

Varian

Lung Ablation: Techniques, Challenges & Best Practices with Dr. Alan Lee, Dr. Scott Oh, and Dr. Rob Suh on the BackTable Tumor Board Podcast

Ep 38 Lung Ablation: Techniques, Challenges & Best Practices with Dr. Alan Lee, Dr. Scott Oh, and Dr. Rob Suh

00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2025, December 2). Ep. 38 – Lung Ablation: Techniques, Challenges & Best Practices [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Scott Genshaft

Dr. Scott Genshaft is an interventional radiologist and the Director of Community Outpatient Interventional Radiology at UCLA Health in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Venkatesh Krishnasamy

Dr. Venkatesh Krishnasamy is an interventional radiologist at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Alan Lee

Dr. Alan Lee is a radiation oncologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA Health in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Scott Oh

Dr. Scott Oh is an interventional pulmonologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Robert Suh

Dr. Robert Suh is a chest radiologist and interventional radiologist with UCLA in California.

Synopsis

Key discussion points include ablation zone sizes, confirmation methods for effective treatment, and the integration of different modalities such as microwave and cryoablation. Our tumor board panel also explores the practical and logistic challenges of implementing high-dose brachytherapy, especially for central lesions, and its role in palliative care. Despite the intricate processes and potential complications like pneumothorax, these methods show promising local control rates and provide crucial options for non-operative candidates.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and Overview of Lung Ablation
07:01 - Microwave Ablation and Ground Glass Attenuation
17:53 - Artificial Pneumothorax Techniques
27:09 - Technical Aspects and Innovations
32:35 - Bronchial Brachytherapy Techniques
37:47 - Conclusion and Credits

Resources

2021 Central Lesion Study
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8186067/

The Materials available on BackTable are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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