A single-center experience on endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol ablation of insulinomas

As the most frequent functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, insulinomas may cause a plethora of symptoms and severe impairment in the living of patients by endogenous hyperinsulinemia and subsequent hypoglycemia. Surgery has been regarded as the first choice although a high risk of complications. Ethanol ablation is a promising non-surgical option that could achieve tumor shrinking in a short-term period. But the impact of symptom control and the long-term efficacy lack sufficient and good-quality evidence.A total number of 14 endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol ablations were performed in 9 patients between September 2016 and September 2018 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The data were collected and prospectively analyzed.The follow-up duration ranged from 21 to 1567 days in 9 patients, with a median of 994 days. 4 patients were free from relapse during a median follow-up of 1108 days (range: 994-1567 days). In 5 patients who suffered relapses, the median duration with symptom relief after the first ablation was 128 days (range: 13-393 days). If only repeated ablation was taken into consideration, the median duration with symptom relief was 26 days (range: 1-516 days). No complications happened during the procedures. The severe complication rate after the first ablation was 0.0% (0/9), compared to 7.14% (1/14) if each procedure was counted separately. The only severe complication documented was acute pancreatitis which was completely relieved after symptomatic treatment.For patients who are not suitable for surgical resections, endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol ablation of insulinomas could be an effective and safe alternative to relieve symptoms of hypoglycemia.