ULS Braga / courtesy
Endoscopic radiofrequency thermoablation of the tumor. The debut of the pioneering technique took place in Braga.
O pancreatic cancer It is the third leading cause of cancer death in Europe and is the digestive tumor with the most delicate prognosis.
In Portugal, there are around 2 thousand new cases per year, with an approximate number of annual deaths related to the same problem.
In the fight against this tumor, there was a first in Portugal: the Local Health Unit of Braga carried out, for the first time in the country, a radiofrequency thermoablation of a pancreatic tumor exclusively endoscopically. It was carried out at the end of 2025 at Braga Hospital.
It is an innovative procedure minimally invasive; an innovative therapeutic alternative for users with surgical indications, but for whom surgery is contraindicated due to the high surgical or anesthetic risk, reads a statement.
“Currently, surgery is the only treatment considered curative for pancreatic tumors. However, there are clinical situations in which the associated comorbidities make this approach unfeasible”, explains doctor Bruno Gonçalves.
This radiofrequency thermoablation is a minimally invasive solution that allows direct destruction of the tumor lesion – and without the need for surgery.
A probe is introduced into the tumor endoscopically; the tumor is soon destroyed using thermal energy. Heat is used to combat the tumor.
It is less invasive, with faster recovery and lower risk of complications. Immediately after the procedure, the response to treatment is assessed based on technical parameters of the endoscopy itself.
The technique is applied in malignant pathology, but can also be used in benign lesions with the potential for malignant transformation, allowing its early destruction and preventing progression to cancer.
Radiofrequency thermoablation is an effective technique: success rates of 70% to 80%.
