Radiation therapy in the treatment of irresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Abstract

Twenty-nine patients with irresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with radiotherapy between 1961 and 1971. In 6 patients the tumor was widespread. Twenty-three patients had regional malignancy, and were treated with curative intent. Some patients received adjunctive chemotherapy, usually with 5-fluorouracil. The radiotherapeutic technique used when cure was thought possible consisted of 6000 R calculated at the frontal midplane (anterior-posterior diameter) of the pancreas region, using Cobalt 60, in 10 weeks elapsed time. Three series of 2000 R in 10 fractions (2 weeks) were given, spaced by intervals (2 weeks) The crude survival figure was 21% at 2 ½ years following diagnosis for all 29 patients. The morbidity of treatment was low; palliative results were encouraging.