[Radiotherapy of malignant liver diseases]

66 patients with malignant primary liver-tumors and liver-metastases from different histologic types were treated by radiotherapy between 1970 and 1984. Five patients had primary tumors and 61 metastases. The desired dose was 2400 cGy within three weeks, several patients received yet higher doses. In 45 cases radiation treatment was combined with a simultaneously or sequentially delivered polychemotherapy. The median survival of the expired was five months, nine patients survived one year. Three patients are alive more than one, five and seven years, their history is reported. Radiotherapy is either alone or in combination with chemotherapy an effective method for palliation in liver malignancies. In a few cases even longer lasting survival times are possible.