Editorial
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2010; 16(28): 3478-3483
Published online Jul 28, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i28.3478
Radiofrequency ablation of locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: An overview
Mirko D’Onofrio, Emilio Barbi, Roberto Girelli, Enrico Martone, Anna Gallotti, Roberto Salvia, Paolo Tinazzi Martini, Claudio Bassi, Paolo Pederzoli, Roberto Pozzi Mucelli
Mirko D’Onofrio, Enrico Martone, Anna Gallotti, Roberto Pozzi Mucelli, Department of Radiology, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy
Emilio Barbi, Paolo Tinazzi Martini, Department of Radiology, Hospital “Casa di Cura Pederzoli” - Peschiera, Verona 37019, Italy
Roberto Girelli, Department of Surgery, Hospital “Casa di Cura Pederzoli” - Peschiera, Verona 37019, Italy
Roberto Salvia, Claudio Bassi, Paolo Pederzoli, Department of Surgery, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy
Author contributions: D’Onofrio M, Barbi E, Girelli R, Martone E, Gallotti A, Salvia R, Martini PT, Bassi C, Pederzoli P and Pozzi Mucelli R contributed equally to this work; D’Onofrio M and Gallotti A designed and performed the review; D’Onofrio M, Barbi E and Gallotti A wrote the paper; Pozzi Mucelli R revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Mirko D’Onofrio, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, Verona 37134, Italy. mirko.donofrio@univr.it
Telephone: +39-45-8124140 Fax: +39-45-8277808
Received: March 10, 2010
Revised: April 2, 2010
Accepted: April 9, 2010
Published online: July 28, 2010
Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of pancreatic neoplasms is restricted to locally advanced, non-resectable but non-metastatic tumors. RFA of pancreatic tumors is nowadays an ultrasound-guided procedure performed during laparotomy in open surgery. Intraoperative ultrasound covers the mandatory role of staging, evaluation of feasibility, guidance and monitoring of the procedure. Different types of needle can be used. The first aim in the evaluation of RFA as a treatment for locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, in order of evaluation but not of importance, is to determine the feasibility of the procedure. The second aim is to establish the effect of RFA on tumoral mass in terms of necrosis and cytoreduction. The most important aim, third in order of evaluation, is the potential improvement of quality of life and survival rate. Nowadays, only a few studies assess the feasibility of the procedure. The present paper is an overview of RFA for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Keywords: Radiofrequency ablation; Pancreatic adenocarcinoma; Intraoperative ultrasound; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Perfusion computed tomography