NanoKnife (Erreversible Electroporation - IRE) for Pancreatic Tumor | University Clinic Rechts der Isar

NanoKnife, an Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) treatment for pancreatic tumors, is available at TUM Hospital Rechts der Isar in Munich through the Section of Interventional Radiology as a minimally invasive local tumor treatment. The method uses high-frequency electrical impulses delivered via electrodes placed directly into the tumor to destabilize tumor cell membranes and destroy tumor cells within a sharply defined treatment zone. In pancreatic indications, NanoKnife is typically considered when a conventional pancreatic operation is not feasible or unlikely to achieve the desired result, including situations after prior therapy in which a new local treatment option is needed. The treatment strategy is set at an interdisciplinary tumor board with other involved specialties, followed by a detailed individual consultation covering procedure steps, risks, possible side effects, and post-treatment planning. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Under image guidance, an interventional radiologist places the electrode probes percutaneously through the skin into the pancreatic tumor. Electrode positioning is controlled using imaging such as ultrasound and computed tomography (CT). Once placed, the electrodes deliver up to 80 short electrical impulses; the preparation phase can take up to 2. 5 hours, while the energy delivery itself usually takes only a few minutes. After the intervention, monitoring is typically performed on an observation unit, with the exact postoperative pathway discussed individually. IRE is also known internationally by the commercial name “NanoKnife. ” A key clinical rationale for pancreatic use is that IRE is described as a non-thermal ablation modality, and multiple studies reviewed in the literature report relative sparing of structures such as blood vessels and bile ducts compared with thermal techniques, an important consideration given the proximity of pancreatic tumors to major vessels and ducts.