A Novel Absorbable Radiopaque Hydrogel Spacer to Separate the Head of the Pancreas and Duodenum in Radiotherapy of Pancreatic Cancer

We demonstrated the feasibility of an endoscopic ultrasound-guided injectable hydrogel separation technique using a cadaveric model to increase the space between the head of the pancreas and duodenum. Using modeling studies, we identified the minimum distance of this separation for optimal sparing of the duodenum, setting the foundation for future clinical trials utilizing this technique to enable dose-escalation with either stereotactic or intensity-modulated radiotherapy for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

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