Short-Term Efficacy of Celiac Plexus Block Combined with Interstitial Permanent Implantation of ¹²⁵I Seeds in Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy of celiac plexus block combined with the interstitial permanent implantation of ¹²⁵I seeds in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer (inoperable locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancers).

Methods A total of 100 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were selected and treated with celiac plexus block combined with the interstitial permanent implantation of ¹²⁵I seeds under CT guidance. Pain relief and changes in the tumor marker CA19-9 were assessed on the seventh day, the first and third months after surgery. In the third month after surgery, tumor size was assessed by CT.

Results Among the 100 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, complete response (CR) was found in 12 cases, partial response (PR) in 78 cases, stable disease in five cases, and progression of disease in five cases three months after surgery. The CA19-9 level and the sum of short and long tumor diameters were significantly decreased (both P<0.01). A total of 100 patients had severe pain before treatment (visual analogue scale (VAS)): 7–10 points), 59 patients reported pain disappearance (VAS: 0 points), 35 patients had mild pain (VAS: 1–3 points), and six patients experienced moderate pain (VAS: 4–6 points) in the third month after treatment. The pain relief rate was 100%.

Conclusion Celiac plexus block combined with the interstitial permanent implantation of ¹²⁵I seeds has good short-term efficacy and can effectively improve short-term pain in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.