[The primary radiotherapy of inoperable or recurrent pancreatic carcinoma--Heidelberg patients from 1982 to 1992].

Abstract

Between 1982 and 1992, 34 patients with locally advanced or relapsed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated at the Department of Radiotherapy in Heidelberg. 14 patients were treated with a combined radiochemotherapy with 5-FU, the other patients were irradiated alone. In all cases irradiation was done with high energy photons. 15 patients received an irradiation with doses between 30 and 44 Gy, and twelve patients between 45 and 66 Gy (median 50 Gy). Seven patients were treated intraoperatively during an exploration laparotomy with fast electrons (10 to 18 MeV, 15 to 20 Gy) and postoperatively with additional 30 to 41 Gy. The median survival of the patients treated with the higher doses or in combination with the IORT showed a significant advantage of nine vs. 2.9 months. There was no benefit in median survival for the patients treated with radiochemotherapy. In retrospective analysis of the percutaneous treated patient collective a pain relief was observed in nine patients. In the prospective treatment protocol of the IORT in 4/4 patients a pain relief was rapidly reached.