Radiotherapy in the management of pancreatic islet cell tumors

Malignant islet cell tumors are commonly treated with surgical resection. Chemotherapy is reserved for residual, unresectable, or metastatic disease. The role for radiotherapy has not been clearly defined. This article describes three cases of advanced islet cell tumors treated effectively with radiotherapy. This experience, in addition to that from other published reports, suggests that radiotherapy is a useful mode for treating advanced islet cell carcinoma.