Endoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation of Celiac Ganglion for Pain Management and Improvement of Quality of Life in Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Celiac Ganglion for Pain Management and Improvement of Quality of Life in Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

This study aims to evaluate the EUS-RFA in terms of efficacy for pain management and improvement in quality-of-life parameters for patients with advanced inoperable pancreatic cancer. The primary objectives of this study are to 1) evaluate the utility of EUS-RFA for pain control and improvement in quality-of-life parameters for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer; 2) to measure the reduction of analgesic medications' requirements in patients affected by inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer based on clinical, radiological, or pathological assessment;
• Referred for abdominal and/or back pain due to pancreatic cancer;
• No prior history of RFA;
• Cancer pain unresponsive to the WHO 3-step analgesic ladder;
• Willingness to consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are not willing to give informed consent or agree to participate in the study
• Surgically resectable pancreatic cancer;
• Abdominal pain with etiology other than pancreatic malignancy;
• Evidence of concurrent infection;
• Patients with irreversible coagulopathy international normalized ratio >1.5 or platelet count <50,000/mm3),
• Patients with a preliminary diagnosis of adenocarcinoma are not possible established with intraprocedural at EUS-guided FNA.