The role of microwave ablation in management of functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Background: Surgical resection is considered to be the only potentially curative option for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). High risk rates of perioperative complications make minimally invasive ablative techniques a novel perspective and alternative treatment option for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. This study aims to present the first experience of using a microwave ablation in management of pNETs.

Methods: Sechenov University has an experience of treating more than 400 patients with hormone-producing tumors of the pancreas, 7 of which were treated by microwave ablation (MWA).

Results: In all patients that underwent MWA, a regression of hormonal symptomatic was achieved. Two patients required readmission a month later for draining of pseudocyst and abscess.

Conclusions: The exact role of microwave ablation in the treatment of non-metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors has not been defined yet. There is a lack of large prospective randomized studies and the reason for this is that local tumor destruction is indicated in selected cases only, thus making it difficult to analyze a large group of patients and assess long-term results of the treatment. However, microwave ablation allows to take a better control of symptoms in patients with hormone overproduction and in those with high risk of postoperative complications.