[Improved treatment results in advanced gallbladder and bile duct cancer by postoperative combined radiotherapy]

From 1984 to 1990 38 patients had an operation for carcinoma of the gallbladder and bile ducts. The unfavorable prognosis of this type of cancer was improved by a combined treatment, consisting of surgical tumor reduction and implantation of a transhepatic drainage, followed by external radiation and intracatheter brachytherapy. Nine patients were treated in this manner, seven died 6-67 months after operation, two are still alive 7 and 13 months postoperatively.