Intraoperative radiotherapy of upper abdominal tumours

Thirty patients with malignant tumours in the upper abdomen underwent surgery and intraoperalive radiation (IORT), using electron beam, to: the surgical bed, residual or unresected tumour. The technical aspects and results of this treatment are described. Renal, adrenal, bile duct and gastrointestinal tumours were treated. along with several other lesions. The surgical procedure consisted in 10 cases simply of exposure of the tumour for IORT and in 20 the tumour was resected. The TORT dose ranged from 10 to: 20 Gv. In 13 patients, external beam radiation was also given to: residual tumour or to: areas of high risk for recurrence. Chemotherapy was given to: 10 patients. Tolerance to: the combined treatment was acceptable; with few complications related to: IORT.The median follow-up and survival time 23 months (range 4-more than 70 months). Local tumour control rate (or tumour stabilisation) is 90%. Distant metastases developed in 19 patients (63%). The actuarial survival rate for the group projected at 70 months (maximum follow-up) is 37%. IORT in useful in the management of tumours arising in the upper abdominal organs, for palliation surgery or when resectability of the tumour is in doubt. Indications for IORT include patients with uncommon tumours of the upper abdomen who are not be candidates for standardised cancer treatment.Presented at the European Congress of Radiology, Vienna, September 15–20,1991