When a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor has spread to other sites, the metastases can be removed by surgery and by other techniques as well. By treating metastases, symptoms can improve and the patient may live longer. These techniques are most often used to treat cancer that has spread to the liver. Sometimes these treatments are also used to treat areas of metastases from pancreatic exocrine cancer when there are only a few of them.
Radiofrequency ablation: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses radio waves to heat and destroy tissues, such as areas of cancer spread.
Microwave thermotherapy: In this procedure, microwaves are used to heat and destroy the abnormal tissue.
Cryosurgery: In cryosurgery, a probe is inserted into the tumor which freezes the tissue with liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide. The area being frozen is destroyed. This technique is also known as cryoablation.
Embolization: For an embolization procedure, a catheter is used to find the artery feeding the tumor. Then a substance is injected into the blood vessel, cutting off the blood supply to the tumor. This kills the tumor. The substance injected can be tiny beads (called microspheres). This procedure is also known as transarterial embolization or TAE. Sometimes radioactive beads are used to deliver radiation to the tumor. When the catheter for TAE is also used to inject chemotherapy drugs it is called transarterial chemoembolization or TACE.
Feedback
