Recent developments in endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for pancreatic lesions

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been regarded as an established technique to treat various diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and Barret’s esophagus. Although the application of RFA in the pancreas has been limited due to increased risk of adverse events, endoscopic ultrasound-guided RFA (EUS-RFA) has generated interest as a novel minimally invasive treatment modality which combines real-time visualization with a precise localization of the treatment procedure. For over a decade, the optimization of RFA devices have made EUS-RFA relatively safe, and several studies have supported its feasibility. However, there is insufficient evidence to suggest the appropriate indications and to describe long-term outcomes of EUS-RFA for various pancreatic neoplasms such as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, ductal adenocarcinoma, and cystic lesions. Therefore, this review focuses on the technical aspects and clinical applications of EUS-RFA for each pancreatic disease.