title: Safety and preliminary efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous irreversible electroporation for treatment of localized pancreatic cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a local tumor treatment. Thin needles are placed percutaneously around the tumor under ultrasound guidance. Short pulses of direct current sent through the tissue irreversibly increase cell membrane permeability leading to cell death. We report a phase 1 study assessing the safety of ultrasound guided percutaneous IRE in patients with localized pancreatic cancer (LPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients (three males) with LPC, judged unsuitable for surgery, chemotherapy, or non-resectable after standard oncological treatment, were treated with IRE. The treatment was given under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No serious treatment-related adverse events were observed. There was no 30-day mortality. One patient went on to laparotomy and had a R0 pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection. Six months after the treatment, two patients had no signs of recurrence on computed tomography or contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IRE for LPC can be safely performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance, with promising initial results regarding efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Correspondence to: Christopher Månsson, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Tel: +46 186114505 Fax: +46 186114508 e-mail: Manuscript.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergenfeldt
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brahmstaedt
authors.forename: Britt-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Karlson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nygren
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Pancreatic cancer; irreversible electroporation; safety; tumor ablation; ultrasound guidance