[Ultrasound guided alcohol ablation of the celiac plexus in oncology patients with abdominal pain].
OBJECTIVE
The authors report results of a retrospective study evaluating the efficacy of US-guided alcohol ablation of the celiac plexus in 26 patients with chronic cancer-related abdominal pain. They review the interest of this imaging technique for guidance.


METHODS
Thirty US-guided alcohol ablations were performed in 26 patients. Twenty-two of them had a prancreatic malignancy, 3 had a gastric cancer and 1 had an esophageal cancer.


RESULTS
72% of patients experienced significant pain relief with at least 50% decrease in morphine requirements for two months. Four patients underwent a second ablation because of persistent pain and 3 of them experienced relief.


CONCLUSIONS
Celiac plexus ablation is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for chronic cancer-related abdominal pain, often used as an adjuvant treatment in the pain management strategy. US guidance is advantageous because it is simple and accurate and enables quick needle placement.
Mathon
G
G
Service de Radiologie Générale, Hôpital G et R Laënnec, Boulevard J Monod, 44093 Nantes cedex 1.
d'Alincourt
A
A
Frampas
E
E
Lerat
F
F
D000368:Aged; D002447:Celiac Plexus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000431:Ethanol