← Issue №1/ week of Jun 24, 2026/Endoscopy

Methodology Assessment of Endoscopic Ultrasound Radiofrequency Ablation (EUS-RFA) for Pancreatic Neoplasms: Results From an International Survey.

From GI Signals issue №1: what this paper found, what it changes, and where it sits against the current standard of care, reviewed by Simon Mathews, MD.

Endoscopy prospective cohort · n=91 · Jul 1, 2026 · Dig Endosc · IF 5.2

Methodology Assessment of Endoscopic Ultrasound Radiofrequency Ablation (EUS-RFA) for Pancreatic Neoplasms: Results From an International Survey.

New evidence
Clinical takeawayEUS-RFA for pancreatic neoplasms remains non-standardized outside insulinoma; indications, antibiotic prophylaxis, power settings, and follow-up vary widely, so it stays investigational pending consensus, with no immediate practice change.
What it foundSurvey reveals high variability in EUS-RFA practices: 94.1% use it for insulinoma, but technique, prophylaxis (57.5% use antibiotics), power settings, and follow-up definitions vary widely.
ContextChallenges prior assumptions of uniform EUS-RFA adoption; confirms widespread procedural heterogeneity in sedation (96.3% use deep/general), risk assessment (97.5% avoid main duct involvement), and success definitions.
Emergingsuggested applicable standard· National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors (current Version 1.2026 / Version 2.2025; peer-reviewed published edition Version 2.2021, criteria unchanged), J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2021

Decision at stakethe use of EUS-RFA for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Per NCCN Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors v2.2025: Work up a suspected pancreatic NET with multiphasic pancreatic-protocol contrast CT and/or MRI; consider EUS with biopsy (FNB) for tissue; use somatostatin-receptor imaging with 68Ga- or 64Cu-DOTATATE PET/CT when it will change management. Grade by mitotic count and Ki-67 under the WHO classification of neuroendocrine neoplasms (G1 <3%, G2 3-20%, G3 >20%).

From our summary of this standard, unedited — the part the paper bears on. marks omitted text. Our wording, not the guideline's; read the source for its own text.

Our full summary of this standard

Per NCCN Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors v2.2025: Work up a suspected pancreatic NET with multiphasic pancreatic-protocol contrast CT and/or MRI; consider EUS with biopsy (FNB) for tissue; use somatostatin-receptor imaging with 68Ga- or 64Cu-DOTATATE PET/CT when it will change management. Obtain biochemical/hormonal evaluation only when a functional syndrome is clinically suspected (not routine for nonfunctioning tumors). Grade by mitotic count and Ki-67 under the WHO classification of neuroendocrine neoplasms (G1 <3%, G2 3-20%, G3 >20%). Consider genetics referral/germline testing for inherited syndromes, principally MEN1 and VHL (less commonly NF1, TSC). LOCALIZED well-differentiated G1/G2: for an incidentally found sporadic nonfunctioning tumor <=2 cm without high-risk features, that is, none of the worrisome imaging/pathologic features that favor resection: main pancreatic-duct dilation (>3 mm) or biliary-duct obstruction, pathologic regional lymphadenopathy on cross-sectional imaging, or vascular encasement/invasion of adjacent structures (grade, functional/symptomatic status, size >2 cm, and interval growth are addressed separately below), NCCN lists BOTH observation and surgery as options; observed lesions are followed with multiphasic CT/MRI (± SSTR-PET as indicated) at 3-12 months, then every 6-12 months if stable. For tumors >2 cm, functional/symptomatic, higher-grade, or enlarging on surveillance, surgical resection (enucleation, distal pancreatectomy, or pancreaticoduodenectomy by location) is recommended and can be curative. ADVANCED/METASTATIC well-differentiated: somatostatin analogs (octreotide LAR or lanreotide) are a preferred first-line option for SSTR-positive, lower-grade/lower-proliferation tumors. 177Lu-DOTATATE PRRT is now also a first-line option for SSTR-positive disease on the strength of NETTER-2, whose population was newly diagnosed grade 2/3 GEP-NET with Ki-67 10-55% (median PFS 22.8 vs 8.5 months), keep the Ki-67 10-55% window and SSTR-positivity as the qualifiers, not an open-ended 'Ki-67 >=10%.' Subsequent-line options for progressive disease include everolimus, sunitinib (pancreatic primary), CAPTEM (capecitabine + temozolomide), PRRT if not already used, and cabozantinib, FDA-approved March 26, 2025 and included by NCCN as a category 1 option for previously treated, unresectable/locally advanced/metastatic well-differentiated pancreatic NET (the FDA label specifies only 'previously treated,' without a required prior-drug sequence).

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors (current Version 1.2026 / Version 2.2025; peer-reviewed published edition Version 2.2021, criteria unchanged), J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2021 · reviewed 2026-07-23 ↗
Lisotti A … Pham KD · Digestive Endoscopy : Official Journal of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society · IF 5.2 · PubMed ↗Permalink
← Read the whole of issue №1 Every paper GI Signals surfaces gets a page like this one. All issues