[A retrospective study of the results of postoperative radiotherapy of hypernephroma]

Retrospectively the patients were analyzed, postoperatively irradiated because of a hypernephroidal kidney carcinoma during the years 1978 to 1988. With a total number of 44 patients 12 were in stage I (Robson), 13 in stage II, 17 in stage III and 2 in stage IV. The probabilities for a tumor-free survival of five years were 81%, 59% and 30% for the stages I to III. The local recurrence rate was 7%, caused by exclusion of clinically negative lymph-nodes from irradiation field. In addition to survival probabilities the complication rate of radiotherapy is analyzed too. To this additionally to analysis of symptoms of a possible side-effect the nuclear medical investigation of function of the remaining kidney was done in 9 selected tumor-free patients being irradiated in different techniques. A normal function was found in all cases. No severe side-effects can be shown in irradiated patients. Consequently the postoperative radiotherapy in hypernephroma is a supportive therapy of advanced tumor stages without severe side-effects. Further and greater planned analyses are necessary to comprehend prognostic factors.