Emerging treatments

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Patients may be offered rTMS, an experimental treatment aimed at modulating central pain perception, in the context of a clinical study, after excluding anatomic causes of pain.[85] One preliminary, phase 2, sham-controlled clinical trial reported that in 17 patients with chronic pain a 10-day course of daily rTMS (aimed at the right secondary somatosensory cortex) reduced pain significantly compared with sham treatment (27.2% vs. 1.1%) and pain relief lasted at least 3 weeks after stopping treatment.[229]

Low-dose radiation

Direct radiation therapy to the pancreas should be limited to clinical research trials. One prospective study assessed single-dose external beam radiotherapy in 15 patients with chronic pancreatitis.[230] The results suggested a reduction in pain.[230]

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may provide short-term pain relief for pancreatic pain, but may require at least weekly treatment.[231][232]

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