The morbidity associated with pancreatectomies limits surgical options for high-risk patients with pancreatic neoplasms that warrant resection. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) offers a minimally invasive and potentially definitive means to treat pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and precancerous pancreatic cystic lesions. In addition, EUS-RFA may play a role in the treatment and palliation of non-surgical cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The efficacy of RFA appears to be further enhanced by systemic immunomodulatory effects. Here, we review current studies on the developing role of EUS-RFA in these pancreatic pathologies.
Keywords: endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA); intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN); pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC); pancreatic cystic lesion (PCL); pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PanNET).