Nine-year survival of a 60-year-old woman with locally advanced pancreatic cancer under repeated open approach radiofrequency ablation: A case report

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is gaining popularity as an additional therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. RFA appears to be an attractive treatment option for patients with unresectable, locally advanced and nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old woman with 2 mo intermittent upper abdominal pains was admitted to hospital. She had undergone radical gastrectomy (Billroth II) for gastric antral cancer. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and abdominal ultrasound displayed a primary tumor in the neck of the pancreas. Pathological examination showed that the lesion was a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. According to the results of the imaging, open approach RFA was selected to treat the primary tumor. Eight months later, CECT follow-up revealed local recurrence of the tumor, and another open RFA was performed. Although there is evidence that RFA for recurrence of other cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma may prolong patient survival, it remains unclear whether repeat RFA for local recurrence of pancreatic cancer is feasible. The patient continued to enjoy 9 years of life following the first RFA. CONCLUSION: RFA of locally advanced, nonresectable, nonmetastatic, pancreatic tumor is characterized by feasibility-based treatment giving rise to tumor reduction based on improvement of quality of life.