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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 8/2021

01-08-2021 | Ultrasound | Hepatobiliary-Pancreas

Improving quality of life in pancreatic cancer patients following high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in two European centers

Authors: Milka Marinova, Hyuliya Feradova, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona, Rupert Conrad, Tolga Tonguc, Marcus Thudium, Marc U. Becher, Zhou Kun, Grigor Gorchev, Slavcho Tomov, Christian P. Strassburg, Ulrike Attenberger, Hans H. Schild, Dobromir Dimitrov, Holger M. Strunk

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 8/2021

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Abstract

Objectives

Pancreatic cancer patients often have a high symptom burden, significantly impairing patients’ quality of life (QOL). Nevertheless, there are hardly any reports on the impact of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on the QOL of treated patients. For the first time, this study evaluated the effect of HIFU on QOL and compared these results in two European centers.

Methods

Eighty patients with advanced pancreatic cancer underwent HIFU (50 in Germany, 30 in Bulgaria). Clinical assessment included evaluation of QOL and symptoms using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after HIFU. Pain intensity was additionally evaluated with the numerical rating score (NRS).

Results

Compared to baseline, global health significantly improved 3 and 6 months after HIFU treatment (p = 0.02). Functional subscales including physical, emotional, and social functioning were considerably improved at 6 months (p = 0.02, p = 0.01, and p = 0.01, respectively) as were leading symptom pain (p = 0.04 at 6 months), fatigue (p = 0.03 at 3 and p = 0.01 at 6 months), and appetite loss (p = 0.01 at 6 months). Moreover, pain intensity measured by NRS revealed effective and strong pain relief at all time points (p < 0.001). Reported effects were independent of tumor stage, metastatic status, and country of treatment.

Conclusions

This study showed that HIFU represents an effective treatment option of advanced pancreatic cancer improving QOL by increasing global health and mitigation of physical complaints with a low rate of side effects, independent of the examiner. Therefore, HIFU is a worthwhile additional treatment besides systemic palliative chemotherapy or best supportive care in management of this aggressive disease.

Key Points

• In a prospective two-center study, it was shown that HIFU represents an effective treatment option of advanced pancreatic cancer improving QOL.
• HIFU in pancreatic cancer patients is associated with a low rate of side effects, independent of the performer.
• HIFU is a worthwhile additional treatment besides systemic palliative chemotherapy or best supportive care in management of this aggressive disease.
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Metadata
Title
Improving quality of life in pancreatic cancer patients following high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in two European centers
Authors
Milka Marinova
Hyuliya Feradova
Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona
Rupert Conrad
Tolga Tonguc
Marcus Thudium
Marc U. Becher
Zhou Kun
Grigor Gorchev
Slavcho Tomov
Christian P. Strassburg
Ulrike Attenberger
Hans H. Schild
Dobromir Dimitrov
Holger M. Strunk
Publication date
01-08-2021
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 8/2021
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07682-z

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