Minimally invasive technologies for ablation of pancreatic malignancies

Abstract

Minimally invasive ablative technologies is a promising direction in the treatment of some cancer patients including pancreatic cancer. Cryodestruction, radiofrequency ablation, irreversible electroporation and ultrasound ablation show encouraging results regarding destruction of tumor tissue, cytoreduction. These methods are associated with small number of complications and relatively easy to tolerate by patients. However, there is no single approach to their use in the complex treatment of these patients. Accumulation of data followed by comparative analysis of various ablation techniques is being carried out in many specialized clinics of the world including national hospitals. Ablation mechanisms of technologies, literature data and the authors' own experience in the treatment of pancreatic cancer are reported in the article. Further randomized prospective trials are required to determine the role of ablation methods in the complex treatment of tumors of parenchymal organs including pancreatic cancer.