[Radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer].
BACKGROUND
The pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease for which cure is only possible in less than 20% of the best cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy so far have improved symptoms with little, but significant, increase in survival rates.


METHODS
Retrospective assessment of 40 patients admitted at Department of Radiation Oncology of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein between April 1993 and August 1999 was done. Radical surgery with tumor resection was previously performed in 25 and palliative procedures or nothing in 15.


RESULTS
Overall actuarial median survival was 14.8 months; and actuarial survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 70% and 22.2% respectively. Actuarial median survival for the group of patients with resected tumor was 21.4 and for the group of patients with non-resected tumor was 16.1 months. Expected survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 76% and 32% for the former group and 60% and 0% for the latter.


CONCLUSIONS
Results were similar to other published series. Better drugs and more frequent intraoperative radiotherapy are necessary.
Weltman
Eduardo
E
Serviço de Radioterapia, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. eweltman@einstein.br
Salvajoli
Joao Victor
JV
Hanriot
Rodrigo de Morais
Rde M
Prisco
Flavio Eduardo
FE
Oliveira
Satiro Nakamura de
SN
Cruz
Jose Carlos
JC
Borges
Sandra Regina de Oliveira
SR
Lagatta
Monica
M
Wajsbrot
Dalia Ballas
DB
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis