title: Fast neutron therapy in treatment of soft tissue sarcoma--the Berlin-Buch study.
abstract: From 1975-1994, 221 adult patients with a total of 232 radiation sites for soft tissue sarcomas were irradiated with fast neutrons with a mean energy of 6.2 MeV in Berlin-Buch/Dresden-Rossendorf. The tumour dose ranged between 6 and 12 Gy and was limited by the low dose penetration of the neutron beam. A local control rate of 66% was obtained. The local control was affected by the tumour differentiation, residual status and histological subtype. Severe fibrosis of the subcutaneous tissues occurred in 40% usually after 2 years. No serious general side effects occurred. To optimize neutron therapy, a high energy clinically-based cyclotron with a fully rotational gantry and a multileaf collimator should be utilized. It seems that patients with locally advanced and well differentiated sarcomas can benefit from this therapy.
authors.affiliation: Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin-Buch, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steingräber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lessel
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017357:Cyclotrons; D005214:Fast Neutrons; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*