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Computed tomography-guided splanchnic nerve neurolysis outcomes by tumor site in unresectable pancreatic cancer: A single-center retrospective cohort study
Hiroshi Baba, Department of Radiology, Japan Community Health Care Organization Nankai Medical Center, Oita 876-0857, Japan
Hiroshi Baba, Hajime Takaki, Yasunari Yamada, Tomoko Nakayama, Department of Radiology, Oita Red Cross Hospital, Oita 870-0033, Japan
Kentaro Iwaki, Kengo Fukuzawa, Department of Surgery, Oita Red Cross Hospital, Oita 870-0033, Japan
Mitsuteru Motomura, Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Internal Medicine, Oita Red Cross Hospital, Oita 870-0033, Japan
Yoshiki Asayama, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu 879-5593, Japan
Author contributions: Baba H, Takaki H, and Yamada Y designed the study; Baba H acquired the data; Baba H and Yamada Y performed the statistical analyses; Baba H, Takaki H, and Yamada Y interpreted the results; Baba H drafted the manuscript; and all the authors critically revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: ChatGPT (OpenAI) was used for language polishing and statistical code development. All AI-assisted content was critically reviewed and revised by the authors, who take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Oita Red Cross Hospital on April 16, 2024.
Informed consent statement: The requirement for written informed consent was waived by the Ethics Committee of the Oita Red Cross Hospital because of the retrospective study design.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: De-identified data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and are subject to institutional and ethical restrictions.
Corresponding author: Hiroshi Baba, MD, Department of Radiology, Japan Community Health Care Organization Nankai Medical Center, 7-8 Tokiwanishimachi, Saiki, Oita 876-0857, Japan. babahiroshi@oita-u.ac.jp
Received: August 7, 2026
Revised: September 16, 2026
Accepted: October 21, 2026
Published online: October 28, 2026
Processing time: 96 Days and 20.4 Hours
Revised: September 16, 2026
Accepted: October 21, 2026
Published online: October 28, 2026
Processing time: 96 Days and 20.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This retrospective study evaluated outcomes after the initial computed tomography-guided neurolytic splanchnic nerve block in 22 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. Clinical success was achieved in 81.8%, with responses observed in both pancreatic head and body/tail tumors. No grade ≥ 3 adverse events were observed. These encouraging findings support further investigation of this approach for pancreatic cancer pain management. Larger prospective studies with standardized outcome assessments are needed to confirm the findings and clarify potential differences by tumor site.