©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2016; 22(37): 8257-8270
Published online Oct 7, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i37.8257
Published online Oct 7, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i37.8257
Review of endoscopic radiofrequency in biliopancreatic tumours with emphasis on clinical benefits, controversies and safety
María-Victoria Alvarez-Sánchez, Department of Gastroenterology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Galicia Sur, 36003 Pontevedra, Spain
Bertrand Napoléon, Department of Gastroenterology, Ramsay Générale de Santé Private Hospital Jean Mermoz, 69008 Lyon, France
Author contributions: Alvarez-Sánchez MV and Napoléon B contributed equally to reviewing the literature, writing and drafting the article, critical revision and final approval.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest. No financial support.
Correspondence to: María-Victoria Alvarez-Sánchez, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Galicia Sur, Av. Montecelo, 36003 Pontevedra, Spain. victoria.alvarez.sanchez@hotmail.com
Telephone: +34-986-800907 Fax: +34-986-800309
Received: May 30, 2016
Peer-review started: May 30, 2016
First decision: July 12, 2016
Revised: July 22, 2016
Accepted: August 10, 2016
Article in press: August 10, 2016
Published online: October 7, 2016
Processing time: 123 Days and 13 Hours
Peer-review started: May 30, 2016
First decision: July 12, 2016
Revised: July 22, 2016
Accepted: August 10, 2016
Article in press: August 10, 2016
Published online: October 7, 2016
Processing time: 123 Days and 13 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Most pancreatic cancers and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Radiofrequency (RF) energy causes coagulative necrosis leading to local destruction of the accessed malignant tissue. Endoscopic RF has emerged as a novel ablative therapy. In the present study, we aim to review general principles and technical aspects and to evaluate clinical benefits and complications of endoscopy-guided RF in biliary and pancreatic indications based on recent literature.