Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40227787›Full record

ReviewCancers2025

Technical Feasibility of Microwave Ablation in Pancreatic Tumors: A Scoping Review of Procedural Efficacy and Safety.

Daniela Tabacelia, Carlos Robles-Medranda, Artsiom Klimko, Stephen P Pereira, Peter Vilmann, Rogier P Voermans, Adrian Săftoiu, Cristian George Tieranu, Cezar Stroescu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Daniela TabaceliaFaculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 010017 Bucharest, Romania.
Carlos Robles-MedrandaEcuadorian Institute of Digestive Diseases, Guayaquil 090101, Ecuador.
Artsiom KlimkoBalgrist University Hospital, 8000 Zurich, Switzerland.
Stephen P PereiraInstitute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, London NW3 2QG, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0821-1809
Peter VilmannGastro Unit, Division of Endoscopy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
Rogier P VoermansDepartment of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Adrian SăftoiuFaculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 010017 Bucharest, Romania.
Cristian George TieranuFaculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 010017 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-5348-0341
Cezar StroescuSurgery Department, Fundeni Clinical Institute, 010017 Bucharest, Romania.

Funding

European Research Executive Agency under the project TRAINING IN TRANSLATIONAL PROTOCOLS FOR MINIMAL INVASIVE DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY IN PANCREATICO-BILIARY CANCERS - TRIP (HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-03: Twinnin 101079210 / 2022UEFISCDI, Ministry of Education, Romania, under the project TRAINING IN TRANSLATIONAL PROTOCOLS FOR MINIMAL INVASIVE DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY IN PANCREATICO-BILIARY CANCERS - NEW-TRIP (PN-IV-P8-8.1-PRE-HE-ORG-2023-0069 23PHE ⁄ 2023
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesPancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies, with limited effective treatment options for advanced stages. Microwave Ablation (MWA) has emerged as a minimally invasive therapeutic modality, offering potential benefits in tumor control. This review aims to critically assess the safety and efficacy of MWA in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, focusing on its application in various pancreatic lesions.

methodsWe systematically reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023 that evaluated the use of MWA in pancreatic tumors, including locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs), and pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Due to limited data on survival rates and long-term outcomes, our analysis concentrated primarily on the technical aspects and immediate procedural outcomes of MWA.

resultsMWA was technically feasible in all cases. The overall complication rate was approximately 16.7% (nine patients), with higher incidences in tumors located in the pancreatic head. Reported complications included pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation. Procedural parameters varied, with applied energy ranging from 20 to 80 watts and ablation times between 2 to 15 min, depending on the microwave generator type and approach (percutaneous, intraoperative or endoscopic). All cases demonstrated effective necrosis of the target tissue, and several studies reported notable tumor size reductions, averaging up to 70%.

conclusionsMWA shows promise as a therapeutic option for pancreatic cancer, achieving high technical success rates and significant tumor reductions. However, the procedure is associated with a moderate complication rate, particularly in tumors located in the pancreatic head.

Indexed as

locally advanced pancreatic cancermicrowave ablationminimally invasive therapypancreatic cancerpancreatic neuroendocrine tumorsrenal cell carcinoma

Identifiers

PMID40227787
PMCPMC11988054

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.