BACKGROUND: Hepatic cryosurgery is a well-recognized modality for hepatic colon @entity3 . We examined its potential use for refractory @entity5 causing progressive symptoms. METHODS: Between July 1992 and February 1997, 19 @entity1 (with islet cell, 7; @entity4303 , 8; vasoactive intestinal peptide, 1; @entity7581 , 3) underwent cryosurgery with ultrasonography. The number of lesions frozen ranged from 1 to 16 (median, 8), and their diameters ranged from 2 to 15 cm with an average of 4 cm. @entity1 underwent resection of the primary @entity5 either before (37%) or concurrent with (32%) cryosurgery, and half underwent excision of @entity3 with cryosurgery. Before cryosurgery, @entity1 received chemotherapy (63%), @entity1943 (47%), interferon (10%), hepatic artery ligation (5%), radiation (10%), and/or @entity4546 (16%). RESULTS: The reduction in @entity5 markers reached 90% ( @entity1130 ), 80% (vasoactive intestinal peptide), 90% ( @entity8243 ), 90% ( @entity3770 ), and 80% ( @entity750 ). At a median follow-up of 17 months, the @entity3 had progressed in 11 @entity1 (two underwent a second cryosurgical procedure that eliminated symptoms) and five had died. Subsequently an additional five @entity1 received chemotherapy and three @entity1943 . Median symptom-free and overall survival were 10 months and more than 49 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cryosurgery dramatically relieved symptoms with significant reduction in @entity5 markers. The reduced @entity5 burden may explain the subsequent response to systemic therapy. Cryosurgery is a useful adjuvant in symptomatic @entity1 with refractory hepatic neuroendocrine @entity3 .

Cryosurgical palliation of metastatic XXXX resistant to conventional therapy.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'neuroendocrine tumors'] @entity3770 :: ('5539', 'Gene') :: ['pancreatic polypeptide'] @entity8243 :: ('2520', 'Gene') :: ['gastrin'] @entity4303 :: ('MESH:D002276', 'Disease') :: ['carcinoid'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases'] @entity1130 :: ('CHEBI:27823', 'Chemical') :: ['5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid'] @entity1943 :: ('MESH:D013004', 'Chemical') :: ['somatostatin'] @entity750 :: ('MESH:D012701', 'Chemical') :: ['serotonin'] @entity4546 :: ('MESH:D009853', 'Chemical') :: ['omeprazole'] @entity7581 :: ('MESH:D015408', 'Disease') :: ['gastrinoma']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['neuroendocrine tumors']
