title: Radiotherapy of carcinomas of the extrahepatic biliary system.
abstract: Carcinomas of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts carry a dismal prognosis. Due to the proximity of a number of vital structures and their early invasion, these tumors are rarely resectable. Long-term survival or cure is an exception. Results of treatment in 11 patients are reported. In 4 patients, radiotherapy was given as an adjuvant to surgery; in 5 patients the aim was palliation, while 2 patients received potentially curative doses of radiation. Good palliation has been achieved. Long-term, disease-free survival has been observed in some radically treated patients. The results suggest that radiotherapy may contribute to cure not only when used as a surgical adjuvant but also as the sole treatment modality in unresectable but still localized carcinomas of the bile ducts.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes