Palliative irradiation for liver metastases

Eleven patients underwent palliative irradiation for symptomatic liver metastases. The whole liver is included in the radiation field. The treatment is given with a cobalt teletherapy unit. Daily doses are 150 rads calculated in the midliver plane. The total dose employed is 2,500 rads given in a three-week period. Eight patients had good response, two moderate response, and one patient failed to respond to treatment. Liver function studies and liver scans also reflected the treatment response. All patients tolerated the treatment and no deaths were attributed to liver irradiation. The impression is that radiation therapy is valuable for the treatment of symptomatic liver metastases in the young patient who does not have a terminal condition.