top of page

Reversible Electroporation - Abdominal Tumors

Reversible Electroporation.jpg

Reversible electroporation is an advanced medical technology currently used primarily as part of a combined treatment called Electrochemotherapy for treating cancerous tumors in the abdominal cavity. Unlike other methods that destroy the tumor using heat or cold, or unlike Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife) which destroys the cell electrically, the goal here is different.

The method uses short, precise electrical pulses to temporarily and reversibly create tiny "holes" in the membrane of tumor cells. This momentary opening of the cell membrane allows chemotherapy drugs, injected into the bloodstream or directly into the tumor, to penetrate the cancer cells with efficiency thousands of times higher than standard chemotherapy treatment. After the electrical current stops, the pores close, trapping the drug inside the cancer cell and destroying it from within. The treatment is intended for patients with abdominal tumors, such as liver metastases or pancreatic tumors, which do not respond well to standard treatments or whose location does not allow for surgery.

The procedure is performed in a dedicated interventional radiology treatment room, usually under general anesthesia, as the electrical pulses can cause muscle contractions.

The specialist physician inserts electrodes (thin needles) through the skin into the tumor area in the abdomen, under the guidance of imaging means such as ultrasound or CT to ensure maximum precision. Simultaneously, the patient is given a chemotherapy drug at an adjusted dose. At the appropriate moment, the device delivers the series of electrical pulses between the needles, an action that lasts only a few minutes. The combination of electricity and chemotherapy allows for highly focused and effective treatment of the tumor itself, using relatively low drug doses, thereby reducing the systemic side effects of chemotherapy.

Among the advantages are
 

  • Significantly increases the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug specifically in the treated tumor area.

  • Allows for the use of lower doses of chemotherapy, thereby reducing general side effects in the body.

  • The procedure is minimally invasive and does not require large surgical incisions or a prolonged recovery time.

  • The electrical currents do not generate heat and therefore do not damage adjacent vital structures 

  • The treatment can be repeated several times if necessary if the tumor recurs or was not fully destroyed.

Disadvantages and risks
 

  • The procedure requires general anesthesia due to muscle contractions caused by the electrical pulses.

  • Risk of bleeding or infection at the needle insertion area into the treated organ in the abdomen.

  • Pain may occur in the treated area in the days following the procedure, requiring pain relief treatment.

  • This method for deep tumors in the abdominal cavity is still relatively new and is not available in all centers.

Created & Authored by Dr. Michal Mauda-Havakuk. All rights reserved 2026 ©
Content is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or consultation

bottom of page