[Radiation therapy for adrenal metastases].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of radiation therapy for adrenal metastases.


METHODS
Fourteen patients, 13 with primary lung carcinoma and one with primary unknown carcinoma, received radiation therapy for adrenal metastases from 1984 to 1995 at the Hyogo Medical Center for Adults. Total dose ranged from 16 Gy to 60 Gy, and fractional dose from 1.6 Gy/ Fr to 3 Gy/Fr.


RESULTS
Partial response of the local tumor was recognized in 2 of 7 patients by CT imaging. Pain relief was obtained in 7 of 8 patients. Median survival was 3 months, and 6-month survival was 28.6% in all patients. Among patients in the symptomatic group, who had complaints of pain due to adrenal mass, survival was even worse (12.5% at 6 months). There were no severe complications, but 4 patients (29%) had gastrointestinal symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiation therapy is useful for the purpose of pain relief in adrenal metastases.
Soejima
T
T
Department of Radiology, Hyogo Medical Center for Adults.
Hirota
S
S
Hishikawa
Y
Y
Hamanaka
A
A
Ozawa
Z
Z
Endo
M
M
Kojima
Y
Y
Kozuma
K
K
Suzuki
Y
Y
Obayashi
K
K
Takada
Y
Y
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate