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. 2014 Nov 28;20(44):16480–16488. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i44.16480

Table 2.

Studies of pulsed-wave high intensity focused ultrasound treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

Study n Patients Treatment Method HIFU Device Outcome and Survival Complications
Wang et al[29] 15 Late-stage pancreatic cancer, unresectable, average tumor size 5.6 cm (2.2-8 cm) Multiple-session HIFU monotherapy, average sessions 8.1 (2-12) Pulsed HIFU irradiation, FEB-BY HIFU System Pain relief: 13/13 (100%)No survival data available Mild abdominal pain: 2/15 (13%)
Li et al[30] 25 Advanced pancreatic cancer, unresectable, average tumor size unclear One-session HIFU: 19 pts; 2-session HIFU: 6 pts; average sessions 1.2 Pulsed HIFU irradiation, FEB-BY HIFU System Performance statue and pain improvement: 23/25 (92%); median overall survival: 10 mo; 1-year survival: 42% First-degree skin burn: 3/25 (12%)
Ge et al[31] 20 A retrospective study for unresectable pancreatic cancer, average tumor size (4.5 ± 1.2) × (3.5 ± 1.0) cm Multiple-session HIFU monotherapy; average HIFU session 9.3 ± 4.1 Pulsed HIFU irradiation, FEB-BY HIFU System Pain relief and survival data not reported Mild abdominal pain: 5/25 (25%); subcutaneous fat callus: 4/25 (20%); 2nd-degree skin burn: 1/25 (5%); pancreatic effusion: 1/25 (5%)
Xiong et al[32] 89 A retrospective study for unresectable pancreatic cancer. Tumor size not reported Multiple-session HIFU monotherapy: 84 pts;HIFU + gemcitabine: 5 pts; HIFU sessions ranging 4-10 Pulsed HIFU irradiation, FEB-BY HIFU System Pain relief: 54/67(80%), median survival: 26.0 mo (stage II), 11.2 mo (stage III) and 5.4 mo (stage IV) Superficial skin burns: 3/89 (3%); subcutaneous fat sclerosis: 8/89 (6%); asymptomatic pseudocyst: 1/89 (1%)
Lee et al[33] 12 Advanced pancreatic cancer, unresectable, average tumor size 3.5 cm (2.3-5.3 cm) Multiple-session HIFU monotherapy: 9 pts; HIFU + gemcitabine: 3 pts; average HIFU sessions: 4.2 (1-18) Pulsed HIFU irradiation, FEB-BY HIFU System Median survival for those receiving HIFU alone: 10.3 mo; Overall survival for 3 patients receiving the combined treatment: 26.0, 21.6 and 10.8 mo, respectively Pancreatitis: 1/12 (8%); skin burn: 5/12 (41%); subcutaneous fat sclerosis: 2/12 (16%)

HIFU: High intensity focused ultrasound; pts: Patients.