[Indications for radiotherapy in cancer of the pancreas]

Radiotherapy of pancreas is usually difficult because of the vicinity of important organs (stomach, small bowel, liver and kidneys) that may result damaged. However, the use of new T.A.C. procedures and the better employment of precision high energy radiotherapy permit the application of a valuable procedure in about fifty per cent of the cases to relieve the pain usually associated to pancreatic carcinoma. The procedure followed at the Radiotherapy Service of the "Hospital General. Ntra. Sra. de la Esperanza", in Barcelona is detailed, making a review of the experience from 1973-1985. Radiotherapy was always associated to chemotherapy.