Case Report
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Jan 10, 2012; 3(1): 12-14
Published online Jan 10, 2012. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v3.i1.12
Optimal combination of radiofrequency ablation with chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer
Shinichi Ikuta, Ami Kurimoto, Hiroya Iida, Tsukasa Aihara, Makiko Takechi, Norihiko Kamikonya, Naoki Yamanaka
Shinichi Ikuta, Ami Kurimoto, Hiroya Iida, Tsukasa Aihara, Naoki Yamanaka, Department of Surgery, Meiwa General Hospital, Hyogo 663-8186, Japan
Makiko Takechi, Tsuchibashi Clinic, Kochi 780-0870, Japan
Norihiko Kamikonya, Department of Radiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
Author contributions: Ikuta S and Takechi M wrote the paper; Kurimoto A, Iida H, Takechi M and Kamikonya N treated the patient; Aihara T and Yamanaka N contributed equally to the supportive work and supervision.
Correspondence to: Dr. Shinichi Ikuta, Department of Surgery, Meiwa General Hospital, Agenaruo 4-31, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8186, Japan. ikuta@meiwa-hospital.com
Telephone: +81-798-471767 Fax: +81-798-477613
Received: September 8, 2011
Revised: October 25, 2011
Accepted: January 7, 2012
Published online: January 10, 2012
Abstract

Problems have been reported in the treatment of pancreatic cancer with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), such as the friability of the organ itself. This report presents possible solutions to such problems. Although our patient suffered from locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer, she remained well at 18 mo after RFA with no evidence of recurrence. To ameliorate the side effects of RFA, after a palliative bypass procedure, the subject was treated with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After this regimen had been administered, a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan confirmed that RFA is a viable approach to the treatment of pancreatic cancer as the chemoradiotherapy had resulted in marked tumor shrinkage and pancreatic fibrosis; i.e., sufficient tumor ablation was achieved without serious RFA-related complications, such as pancreatitis or pancreatic fistulae. The present case suggests that RFA combined with preceding chemoradiotherapy is safe and effective for the palliative treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Locally advanced pancreatic cancer; Radiotherapy; Radiofrequency ablation