Healing dynamics of porcine pancreatic parenchyma after radiofrequency ablation - in vivo experimental pilot study

Radiofrequency ablation is a tumour destruction method, widely used in human as well veterinary medicine. Recently, it has been applied to pancreatic disorder treatment. However, little is known about healing of the pancreatic parenchyma after radiofrequency ablation as it is important for the prevention of complications and treatment strategy. The aim of this experimental in vivo study on pigs was to evaluate the pancreatic parenchyma healing dynamics after damage by radiofrequency ablation. Radiofrequency ablations of the duodenal lobe of the pancreas were performed on 8 cross-bred laboratory pigs. They were euthanized in pairs at seven, fourteen, forty and eighty days after the procedure. Histological and cytological changes of the ablated zone were evaluated after autopsy. It was proved that pancreatic necrosis after radiofrequency ablation heals by means of fibrotic scar. There was no sign of exocrine and endocrine regeneration, respectively, during 80 days after the procedure. This is the first study verifying that the healing process of an ablation zone in the pancreatic parenchyma after radiofrequency ablation is similar to healing in the liver, lung, heart and other parenchymal organs.