[Radiotherapy of pancreas cancer--literature review]

Resection is the treatment of choice in organ-limited pancreatic cancer. In locally or regional, not completely resectable pancreatic cancer other therapeutic modalities are called upon: external beam radiotherapy results in relief of pain in 50% and average survival rate of about 10 months according to recent series in the literature. Loco-regional tumor control can be improved by intraoperative electrons or interstitial implantation of radioactive sources. - The combination of monochemotherapy (5-fluorouracil) and 40 Gy radiotherapy is well tolerated and tends to prolong survival also if given after curative resection.