Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2008; 14(10): 1603-1611
Published online Mar 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1603
Table 1 Adverse effects of pancreatic cryosurgery
Adverse effectsNo. of patients (n)%
Abdominal pain3469.4
Fever2653.1
Acute pancreatitis1612.2
Increased amylase levels22551.0
Abdominal bleeding336.1
Pulmonary infection36.1
Myocardial infarction12.0
Cerebral infarction12.0
Table 2 Median survival in different subgroups of patients with pancreatic cancer (breslow test)
Patient subgroupsnMedian survival (mo)P
Tumor location
Pancreatic head15220.0204
Pancreatic body or tail3412
Tumor size
≤ 4 cm24130.7425
> 4 cm2514
Mode of cryosurgery
Inoperative13110.1907
Percutaneous3614
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Yes20110.0006
No2922
Hepatic metastases
Yes12110.0088
No3719
Table 3 Recent chemoradiation trials in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer
ReporterNo. of patients (n)TherapyMedian progression-free survival (mo)Median survival (mo)Objective response (%)Survival at 12 mo after treatment (%)
El-Rayer[25]47Gemcitabine, cisplatin, and infusional fluorouracil34
Tokuuye[26]53Small-field radiotherapy in combination with concomitant chemotherapy10.235.2
Okusaka[27]34Gemcitabine + 5-FU3.27.12514.3
Yamazaki[28]22Concurrent chemoradiotherapygemcitabine163278
Isacoff[29]505-FU, mitomycin dipyridamole2654
Park[30]45Gemcitabine + capecitabine5.410.440
Ko[31]25Gemcitabine + cisplatin, re-radiation + capecitabine10.513.562
Polyzos[32]32Gemcitabine + 5-FU, folic acid, somatostatin772220
Michael[33]30Gemcitabine + 13-cis7.8
Furuse[34]Intraoperative radiation, 5-FU infusion7.88.1 (2 yr)
Present series38Cryosurgery and 125iodine seed implantation12CR + PR 59.263.1