PGIMER organises conference on rare tumour treatments

While people often associate tumours with masses of cells within a single organ, doctors at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, on Saturday shed light on a far more elusive category - Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs). These are rare growths that develop in the body’s specialised “messenger” cells which act as a bridge between the nervous system and the hormone-producing endocrine system.

The focus of the 3rd Rastogi-Dash Clinical Case Conference held at the institute’s Lecture Theatre Complex was “Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic (GEP) Tumors”. Unlike standard cancers, these often manifest as “syndromic”. This means a single patient may suffer from multiple tumors simultaneously across different organs such as the pancreas and duodenum, leading to confusing symptoms like chronic diarrhea or sudden paralysis.

The highlight of the technical sessions was the discussion on Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), commonly known as “hot needle” technology. Panelists discussed a successful shift from traditional invasive surgery to endoscopic ultrasound-guided RFA for treating insulinomas, small tumours in the pancreas that cause life-threatening drops in blood sugar levels. At the heart of the breakthrough is the technology’s precision. By inserting a thin needle directly into the tumour under ultrasound guidance, doctors can destroy the tumour from the inside without harming the surrounding healthy pancreatic tissue. According to experts, the “precision over incision” approach is a game-changer for patients who are considered to be high-risk for open surgery.

International speakers, including Dr Pankaj Shah from the Mayo Clinic in the USA and Dr Wouter Willem De Herder from the Netherlands, participated in the conference. They were joined by specialists from premier Indian institutes like AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, JIPMER-Puducherry and SGPGI-Lucknow.

Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, inaugurated the event and emphasised that while advanced technology was advancing medicine, lifestyle and prevention remained the primary prescription for endocrine health. PGIMER’s Department of Endocrinology is a leader in the field, having recently secured Rs 50 crore in research grants specifically for studying complex endocrine disorders.

Panelists stressed that the “primary” source of such tumours was often hidden. The consensus among experts was to work towards a treatment method that combines diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy, allowing doctors to identify and treat tumours with radioactive molecules in real time.