title: Whole Liver Palliative Radiotherapy for Patients with Massive Liver Metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this retrospectively study was to examine the effectiveness and tolerability of a radiotherapy technique for the palliation of symptomatic liver metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients with liver metastases were enrolled and received targeted whole liver irradiation consisting of mean 1, 8 Gy in five to twelve fractions to a total mean dose 17 Gy. Symptoms at baseline were hepatic pain (26 patients), lost of weight (6), lack of appetite (2), and night sweats (1). Seventeen patients (63%) had failed previous treatment with chemotherapy and/or high-dose steroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individual symptom response rates were 100% at 4 weeks. Partial or complete global symptomatic responses were noted in 11 patients (40%) after 2 months. After 3 months, 8 patients (28%) reported loss of pain. The treatment was well tolerated with one patient (3%) experiencing grade 3 toxicity (one vomiting and one diarrhoea). Overall the median survival time was 4.9 months (range 1-14 months). One year survival was 39%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is simple and well-tolerated treatment but to achieve good palliation effects we should carefully selected patients whose conventional treatment does not bring good analgesic control.
authors.affiliation: Lubuski Center of Oncology, Zielona Gora, Poland E-mail : edyta.wolny@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wolny-Rokicka
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Edyta
authors.forename: Lipinski
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jakub
authors.forename: Wydmanski
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jerzy
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013546:Sweating; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss