Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Interstitial Brachytherapy of Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: Results of a Pilot Trial

Abstract

EUS-guided intraoperative interstitial brachytherapy had a moderate local tumor effect and showed some clinical benefit in 30% of the patients in this study. Combination of this form of treatment with external radiation and/or chemotherapy should be tested in future trials.

Endoscope-assisted brachytherapy for pancreatic cancer: From tumor killing to pain relief and drainage

“…15,16 The number of patients enrolled in these two studies was 15 and 22, respectively, with stage III or IV pancreatic cancer in a majority of cases. The study conducted by Sun et al 15 reported an estimated median survival time of 10.6 months and 27% patients reached a partial tumor response toward a mean 22 seeds load per patient. Procedure-related pancreatitis or pseudocyst was only found in three patients, which was considered mild and easily managed.…”

Clinical Application of Image-Guided Iodine-125 Seed Implantation Therapy in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

“…Other series of intraoperative iodine−125 implantation have been associated with mortality ranging from 0% to 16% and major morbidity of 18% (Order et al, 1996). Sun S et al reported (Sun et al, 2006), there was no significant immediate complications, such as significant bleeding or infection. The incidence of complications was 3/15 (20%), and the adverse events were mild and not life−threatening.…”

Endoscopic Management of Pancreatic Cancer: From Diagnosis to Palliative Therapy

“…Other reported complications reported less frequently are pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation. (Sun et al, 2006) Small size studies have demonstrated the technical feasibility of EUS-guided implantation of radioactive seeds in pancreatic tumors, and the technique appears to be well tolerated. (Ramesh & Varadarajulu, 2008;Sun et al, 2006) However, larger studies evaluating this technique and its role in a multimodality approach in combination with chemotherapy and/ or external beam radiation are needed.…”