Pancreatic head cryosurgery: safety and efficiency in vivo--a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. Cryosurgery has emerged as a promising new technique for treatment. Although 80% of pancreatic cancers are located in the pancreatic head, no research has been conducted on the safety and efficacy of cryosurgery for these tumors.


METHODS
Two groups of Tibetan miniature pigs (n = 4 per group) underwent cryosurgery to the pancreatic head with either the deep freezing protocol (100% argon output) or shallow freezing protocol (10% argon output), and compared to sham-operated pigs.


RESULTS
Serum inflammatory factors and amylase increased during the 5 days after cryoablation in both groups but acute pancreatitis did not occur. Adhesions were observed between the pancreatic head and adjacent organs, and only minor trauma was caused to the stomach, duodenum, small intestine, and liver. Ice balls with a radius of 0.5 cm beyond the tumor edge were sufficient to cause complete necrosis of the pancreatic tissue, and decreased the degree of cold injury to surrounding tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Shallow freezing protocol seemed to be safer than, and just as effective as, the deep freezing protocol. This preliminary study suggests that cryosurgery could potentially be an effective treatment of cancer of the pancreatic head.
Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Jialiang
J
Li
Liang
L
Zhou
Jibing
J
Chen
Binghui
B
Wu
Jianying
J
Zeng
Gang
G
Fang
Chunjuan
C
Deng
Shengquan
S
Huang
Fei
F
Yao
Zhixian
Z
Chen
Yin
Y
Leng
Min
M
Deng
Chunmei
C
Deng
Bo
B
Zhang
Gang
G
Zhou
Lihua
L
He
Maoxin
M
Liao
David
D
Chiu
Lizhi
L
Niu
Jiansheng
J
Zuo
Kecheng
K
Xu
D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004386:Duodenum / Q000293:injuries; D007053:Ice; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D007053:Ice; D000681:Amylases