[Intraoperative radiotherapy of unresectable pancreatic carcinoma]

Twenty-eight cases of unresectable pancreatic carcinoma were treated with intraoperative radiotherapy (IOR) with or without postoperative radiotherapy (POR) from 1975 to 1982 at Tokyo Women's Medical College. The results were as follows. IOR was effective for pain relief, and the response rate was 93%. Twenty-five Gy of IOR, considering sequential POR, was a reasonable dose in about an 8 X 8 cm to 10 X 10 cm radiation field. Precise staging and marking of the tumor edge at operation were important for the treatment planning after IOR. Radiotherapy should be considered in the multimodal treatment of pancreatic carcinoma.