Barw Barw Medical Journal 2960-1959 2024 12 07 Microwave Ablation with or Without Chemotherapy in Management of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review 10.58742/bmj.v2i4.147 eng Fahmi H. Kakamad College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. kakamad.fahmi@gmail.com Rebaz M. Ali Department of Oncology, Hiwa Hospital, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. rebaz.ali@gmail.com Soran H. Tahir Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. soran.tahir@univsul.edu.iq Ameer M. Salih Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. ameer.salih@univsul.edu.iq Berun A. Abdalla College of Education, Department of Biology, University of Sulaimani, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. berun.anwer95@gmail.com Lana RA. Pshtiwan Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. lana.pshtiwan@gmail.com Aras J. Qaradakhy Department of Radiology, Shorsh Teaching Hospital, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. aras.qaradakhy@gmail.com Harem K. Ahmed Department of Medicine, Shar Hospital, Malik Mahmud Ring Road, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. harem.kareem@gmail.com Sasan M. Ahmed Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. sasan0751@gmail.com Yousif M. Mahmood Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. yousuf.smarthealth@gmail.com Fakher Abdullah Kscien Organization for Scientific Research (Middle East office), Hamid Street, Azadi Mall, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. fakherabdullah1976@gmail.com Mohammed Gh. Hamasaeed Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. mohammed111@gmail.com Abdulwahid M. Salih Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. abdulwahd.salih@gmail.com 2024 10 30 Introduction  Microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment for patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, whether it is more effective as a standalone treatment or in combination with chemotherapy warrants further investigation. This systematic review assesses the efficacy and safety of MWA as a standalone treatment and in combination with chemotherapy in managing NSCLC. Methods Studies were included if MWA was used either as a standalone treatment or combined with chemotherapy for managing NSCLC, regardless of whether chemotherapy was administered before or after MWA. Results The patient cohort included 928 patients. In 63.8% of the cases, MWA was used alone, and in 36.2% with chemotherapy. Complications from MWA alone were higher (59.29% vs. 32.74%). The tumor stage in 52.36% of the cases who underwent MWA alone was stage I; however, it was the IV stage in 82.44% of the cases who underwent MWA combined with chemotherapy. Patients with available data and treated with MWA alone experienced higher local progression (26% vs. 18.5%), distant recurrence (51.5% vs. 38.5%), and both local and distant recurrence (10.8% vs. 2.6%). Reported complete response was 88.6% among cases that underwent MWA alone. While it was 78.0% in those who underwent combined MWA and chemotherapy. The median overall survival was higher in the MWA alone group (24.9 to 69.6 months vs. 21.3 to 23.90 months). Conclusion MWA combined with chemotherapy may represent a more effective option, with a slightly similar treatment response, reducing the risk of recurrence and minimizing complications.