Role of imaging in the applicability of irreversible electroporation for the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignant neoplasms, with a one-year survival rate below 20%. Axial methods (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) play a fundamental role in the diagnosis and staging of the disease, because they provide adequate anatomical resolution in the assessment of key structures, mainly vascular structures. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is most often discovered in advanced stages, when surgical resection is no longer feasible. In that scenario, minimally invasive treatment alternatives have been developed in attempts to change the natural history of the disease. Irreversible electroporation, an interventional procedure that minimizes deleterious effects on adjacent tissues, has proven useful for the treatment of tumors traditionally considered unresectable. Despite the growing acknowledgment of this technique as a tool for the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, it is still relatively unknown among radiologists. In this study, we sought to provide an overview of the main characteristics and eligibility criteria that must be considered for the indication of irreversible electroporation in cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

O adenocarcinoma ductal de pâncreas é uma das neoplasias malignas mais agressivas, com taxas de sobrevivência anuais inferiores a 20%. Os métodos axiais (tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética) têm papel fundamental no diagnóstico e estadiamento da doença, por fornecerem adequada resolução anatômica na avaliação de estruturas-chave, principalmente vasculares. O adenocarcinoma ductal de pâncreas é frequentemente descoberto em estágios avançados e sem viabilidade de ressecção cirúrgica, e nesse cenário o desenvolvimento de alternativas terapêuticas minimamente invasivas tem sido ainda mais importante para a mudança de sua história natural. A eletroporação irreversível, procedimento intervencionista que minimiza efeitos deletérios nos tecidos adjacentes, vem se destacando no tratamento de lesões tradicionalmente consideradas irressecáveis. Essa técnica, apesar de ganhar cada vez mais espaço no manejo terapêutico do adenocarcinoma ductal de pâncreas, ainda é pouco familiar aos radiologistas. Neste estudo, buscamos expor, de forma sucinta e didática, os fundamentos da técnica, as principais características de imagem e os critérios de elegibilidade que devem ser considerados para indicação da eletroporação irreversível nessa doença.

Papel da imagem na indicação da eletroporação irreversível no manejo terapêutico do adenocarcinoma de pâncreas / Role of imaging in the applicability of irreversible electroporation for the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Resumo O adenocarcinoma ductal de pâncreas é uma das neoplasias malignas mais agressivas, com taxas de sobrevivência anuais inferiores a 20%. Os métodos axiais (tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética) têm papel fundamental no diagnóstico e estadiamento da doença, por fornecerem adequada resolução anatômica na avaliação de estruturas-chave, principalmente vasculares. O adenocarcinoma ductal de pâncreas é frequentemente descoberto em estágios avançados e sem viabilidade de ressecção cirúrgica, e nesse cenário o desenvolvimento de alternativas terapêuticas minimamente invasivas tem sido ainda mais importante para a mudança de sua história natural. A eletroporação irreversível, procedimento intervencionista que minimiza efeitos deletérios nos tecidos adjacentes, vem se destacando no tratamento de lesões tradicionalmente consideradas irressecáveis. Essa técnica, apesar de ganhar cada vez mais espaço no manejo terapêutico do adenocarcinoma ductal de pâncreas, ainda é pouco familiar aos radiologistas. Neste estudo, buscamos expor, de forma sucinta e didática, os fundamentos da técnica, as principais características de imagem e os critérios de elegibilidade que devem ser considerados para indicação da eletroporação irreversível nessa doença.

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignant neoplasms, with a one-year survival rate below 20%. Axial methods (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) play a fundamental role in the diagnosis and staging of the disease, because they provide adequate anatomical resolution in the assessment of key structures, mainly vascular structures. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is most often discovered in advanced stages, when surgical resection is no longer feasible. In that scenario, minimally invasive treatment alternatives have been developed in attempts to change the natural history of the disease. Irreversible electroporation, an interventional procedure that minimizes deleterious effects on adjacent tissues, has proven useful for the treatment of tumors traditionally considered unresectable. Despite the growing acknowledgment of this technique as a tool for the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, it is still relatively unknown among radiologists. In this study, we sought to provide an overview of the main characteristics and eligibility criteria that must be considered for the indication of irreversible electroporation in cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation of Unresectable Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin Tumor): A Case Report.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel image-guided ablation technique that is rapidly gaining popularity in the treatment of malignant tumors located near large vessels or bile ducts. The presence of metal objects in the ablation zone, such as Wallstents, is generally considered a contraindication for IRE, because tissue heating due to power conduction may lead to thermal complications. This report describes a 66-year-old female with a Bismuth-Corlette stage IV unresectable cholangiocarcinoma with a metallic Wallstent in the common bile duct, who was safely treated with percutaneous IRE with no signs for relapse 1 year after the procedure.

Anaesthetic management during open and percutaneous irreversible electroporation.

BACKGROUND: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel tumour ablation technique involving repetitive application of electrical energy around a tumour. The use of pulsed electrical gradients carries a risk of cardiac arrhythmias, severe muscle contractions, and seizures. We aimed to identify IRE-related risks and the appropriate precautions for anaesthetic management. METHODS: All patients who were treated with IRE were prospectively included. Exclusion criteria were arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, active coronary artery disease, and epilepsy. All procedures were performed under general anaesthesia with complete muscle relaxation during ECG-synchronized pulsing. Adverse events, cardiovascular effects, blood samples, cerebral activity, and post-procedural pain were analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients underwent 30 IRE sessions for tumours in the liver, pancreas, kidney, and lesser pelvis. No major adverse events occurred during IRE. Median systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased by 44 mm Hg (range -7 to 108 mm Hg) and 19 mm Hg (range 1-50 mm Hg), respectively. Two transient minor cardiac arrhythmias without haemodynamic consequences were observed. Muscle contractions were mild and IRE caused no reactive brain activity on a simplified EEG. Pain in the first 24 h after percutaneous IRE was generally mild, but higher pain scores were reported after pancreatic treatment (mean VAS score 3; range 0-9). CONCLUSIONS: Side-effects during IRE on tumours in the liver, pancreas, kidney, and lesser pelvis seem mild and manageable when current recommendations for anaesthesia management, including deep muscle relaxation and ECG synchronized pulsing, are followed. Electrical pulses do not seem to cause reactive cerebral activity and evidence for pre-existing atrial fibrillation as an absolute contra-indication for IRE is questionable.