Project description:Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) are being increasingly detected because of rapid advances in radiologic technology and an increased imaging demand. The management of PCNs is challenging as most of these neoplasms are asymptomatic, but have malignant potential, and surgical resection has substantial perioperative morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided ablation, as a minimally invasive treatment, has received increasing attention in the past few years. However, the resolution after EUS-guided ablative therapy still needs to be improved. In this case report, EUS-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with lauromacrogol ablation was applied for the first time in the treatment of PCN, and it showed complete resolution at a 3-month follow-up.
Project description:Abstract Primary Aldosteronism (PA) carries significant cardiometabolic risk, over and above those attributable to hypertension alone. The Endocrine Society guidelines recommend adrenalectomy in those with unilateral disease. However surgery is likely to become unsustainable in public healthcare systems as more patients are diagnosed with PA. Already, surgery may not be feasible in some patients due to co-morbidities, others are reluctant to have the whole adrenal gland removed when excess aldosterone can be localised to small APA(s) in 1 gland. The FABULAS Study explores if EUS-RFA is a safe alternative to left-sided adrenalectomy (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03405025). This multicentre phase-1 study comprises 3 groups of 10 patients with proven PA and left APAs. Successive groups have an increasing benefit:risk ratio for surgery. The first 4 ablation procedures are assessed by an independent safety committee before progression into the next, overlapping group. The primary outcomes are safety and feasibility of EUS-RFA. Safety is assessed throughout the study, including measures of intra-procedure adrenomedullary activation. Efficacy is evaluated by biochemistry, home / clinic BPs, and quantitative 11C-metomidate PET-CT at baseline and 6 months post-ablation. RFA is performed using a Starmed catheter, small enough to pass through a 19-gauge needle, through the stomach. Ablation has been performed in 6 patients (median age 63-years). Mean tumour size was 17mm (range 12-36mm). Plasma metanephrine levels remained stable during RFA. 2 adverse events occurred within the first 48hours post-ablation: AF in a patient with known paroxysmal AF, and an episode of pyrexia and raised CRP attributed to tissue infarction. Both events were deemed ‘not unexpected’ by the safety committee. Most patients have benefited clinically post-ablation. This is illustrated by a 65-year-old man with previously uncontrolled hypertension despite 4 antihypertensive medications, including spironolactone. Baseline aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR) was >200 (PA likely if ARR>60). PET CT revealed a 15mm left adrenal nodule with avid metomidate uptake and an SUVmax ratio of 1.92 (SUVmax ratio >1.25 suggestive of unilateral disease). He underwent uneventful EUS-RFA. 6 months post-ablation his ARR has normalised to 26. On repeat PET CT the metomidate avid adenoma is no longer hot, with a drop in both the SUVmax measured over the APA (31 pre-, and 5 post-ablation) and a reduction in the SUVmax ratio to 1.04. Most importantly, his home BP averages 124/83mmHg and he is thrilled to be off all treatment. Retrospective reports exist of successful percutaneous and retroperitoneal RFA of APAs. FABULAS is the first prospective study, using a minimally invasive, endoscopic route. If proven to be safe and effective EUS-RFA will open the doors for more patients to receive definitive treatment, potentially even those with bilateral disease.
Project description:Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been widely used for the treatment of various solid organ malignancies. Over the last decade, endosonographers have gradually shifted the application of RFA from porcine models to humans to treat a spectrum of diseases. RFA is performed in patients with pancreatic carcinoma who are not candidates for surgery. In this paper, we will discuss various indications for RFA, its procedural details and complications. At present, endoscopic ultrasound-guided RFA is gradually incorporated into the management of various diseases and opens a new avenue for disease treatment.
Project description:Background and aimsRecent data support a role for endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in unresectable cholangiocarcinoma by improving stent patency and overall survival.MethodsWe describe 3 patients with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma with jaundice and cholestasis who were recommended palliative chemotherapy. They underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with single-operator cholangioscope and intraductal RFA.ResultsThe procedures were performed without adverse events in all patients, with clinical and analytical improvement 1 month later.ConclusionsRFA is a promising and safe palliative treatment in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.
Project description:Surgical resection is considered the standard of care in the management of symptomatic insulinoma. In this video, we describe the successful management of a symptomatic insulinoma by using linear array endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided ethanol ablation in a poor surgical candidate. EUS-guided ethanol ablation of insulinoma offers a safer, effective, and less invasive alternative to surgery.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To report on the use of RFA for the treatment of symptomatic benign and autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs) in the first reported UK cohort. METHODS:Patients treated over a 19-month period were retrospectively reviewed. Nodules were assessed pre-treatment and at 1 and 6?months post-treatment. Nodule volume was calculated and cosmetic assessment and thyroid-related quality of life (QoL) scores were recorded at each time point. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) were recorded at all three time points for patients with ATFNs. RESULTS:46 patients with 50 nodules were treated with no complications. The mean volume reduction 1-month post-treatment was 53 +- 14.9 % ( p < 0.0001). Six month data was available for 31 nodules and showed a mean 67 +- 17.6%?vol reduction ( p < 0.0001). Five of the six patients with ATFNs were euthyroid at 1-month post-procedure. 6-month data was available on three of these patients, and all remained euthyroid. The thyroid-related QoL and cosmetic scores also improved. Data from 23 patients was available pre-treatment and at 6?months post-treatment and there was a significant ( p < 0.0001) reduction in QoL score. Pre-treatment, 82 % of nodules were readily visible at rest, decreasing to 12.5 % 6 months after treatment ( p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Results align with published data suggesting that RFA is effective at reducing nodule volume and at treating ATFNs and leads to improvement in thyroid-related QoL and cosmetic scores. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:This early UK experience demonstrates that day-case radiofrequency ablation can provide safe and effective treatment of benign symptomatic thyroid nodules.
Project description:EUS-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ethanol ablation (EA) for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) have recently been reported with good outcomes. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of EUS-RFA and EUS-EA in the treatment of PNETs. A comprehensive search of multiple databases (through October 2020) was performed to identify studies that reported outcomes of EUS-RFA and EUS-EA of PNETs. Outcomes assessed included clinical success, technical success, and adverse events (AEs). A total of 181 (100 EUS-RFA, 81 EUS-EA) patients (60.7 ± 9.2 years) with 204 (113 EUS-RFA, 91 EUS-EA) PNETs (mean size 15.1 ± 4.7 mm) were included from 20 studies. There was no significant difference in the rates of technical success (94.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 88.5-97.3, I2 = 0] vs. 96.7% [95% CI: 90.8-98.8, I2 = 0]; P = 0.42), clinical success (85.2% (95% CI: 75.9-91.4, I2 = 0) vs. 82.2% [95% CI: 68.2-90.8, I2 = 10.1]; P = 0.65), and AEs (14.1% [95% CI: 7.1-26.3, I2 = 0] vs. 11.5% [95% CI: 4.7-25.4, I2 = 63.5]; P = 0.7) between EUS-RFA and EUS-EA, respectively. The most common AE was pancreatitis with the rate of 7.8% and 7.6% (P = 0.95) for EUS-RFA and EUS-EA, respectively. On meta-regression, the location of PNETs in head/neck of pancreas (P = 0.03) was a positive predictor of clinical success for EUS-RFA. EUS-RFA and EUS-EA have similar effectiveness and safety for PNETs ablation. Head/neck location of PNETs was a positive predictor for clinical success after EUS-RFA.