CONTEXT: Unresectable pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis. Palliative surgery and chemo-radiotherapy have not produced significant improvement in survival. We evaluated the safety and the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for cytoreduction of unresectable tumors of the pancreas. CASE REPORT: Radiofrequency ablation was performed in three patients with histologically proven unresectable cancer of the pancreas: two females and one male; 48, 60, and 66 years of age (mean 58 years). The sizes of the pancreatic tumors were 5.0, 6.5, and 8.0 cm (mean 6.5 cm), respectively. Two patients underwent radiofrequency ablation during an open operation while one patient had percutaneous CT guided radiofrequency ablation. All had endobiliary stenting for obstructive jaundice. Partial necrosis (up to 3 cm) of the tumor was achieved in all cases. There was no major morbidity or mortality. Self-limiting minor complications occurred in two patients. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation is a local ablative method used with increasing frequency and may be used safely for cytoreduction in locally advanced inoperable pancreatic malignancies. Further studies are required to ascertain whether this can improve survival/quality of life alone or in combination with other therapies.
CONTEXT: Unresectable pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis. Palliative surgery and chemo-radiotherapy have not produced significant improvement in survival. We evaluated the safety and the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for cytoreduction of unresectable tumors of the pancreas. CASE REPORT: Radiofrequency ablation was performed in three patients with histologically proven unresectable cancer of the pancreas: two females and one male; 48, 60, and 66 years of age (mean 58 years). The sizes of the pancreatic tumors were 5.0, 6.5, and 8.0 cm (mean 6.5 cm), respectively. Two patients underwent radiofrequency ablation during an open operation while one patient had percutaneous CT guided radiofrequency ablation. All had endobiliary stenting for obstructive jaundice. Partial necrosis (up to 3 cm) of the tumor was achieved in all cases. There was no major morbidity or mortality. Self-limiting minor complications occurred in two patients. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation is a local ablative method used with increasing frequency and may be used safely for cytoreduction in locally advanced inoperable pancreatic malignancies. Further studies are required to ascertain whether this can improve survival/quality of life alone or in combination with other therapies.
Authors: Roberto Ballarin; Mario Spaggiari; Nicola Cautero; Nicola De Ruvo; Roberto Montalti; Cristina Longo; Anna Pecchi; Patrizia Giacobazzi; Giuseppina De Marco; Giuseppe D'Amico; Giorgio Enrico Gerunda; Fabrizio Di Benedetto Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2011-11-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Dobromir Dimitrov; Holger M Strunk; Milka Marinova; Hyuliya Feradova; Maria A Gonzalez-Carmona; Rupert Conrad; Tolga Tonguc; Marcus Thudium; Marc U Becher; Zhou Kun; Grigor Gorchev; Slavcho Tomov; Christian P Strassburg; Ulrike Attenberger; Hans H Schild Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2021-01-23 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Margaret G Keane; Konstantinos Bramis; Stephen P Pereira; Giuseppe K Fusai Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2014-03-07 Impact factor: 5.742