[Preoperative irradiation of hypernephroid renal carcinoma]

Two groups of patients with renal cell carcinoma were compared to test the effect of preoperative short-term-radiation: 30 patients with hypernephroma, were treated by the same method (nephrectomy and postoperative radiation) and a farther 30 patients were treated for one week with preoperative radiation (a total dose of 18 to 21 Gy), radical nephrectomy performed after a 3 to 4 day break and postoperative radiation. At the same time a clear increase was shown in the 3-year-survival period as well as that of the 5-year-period. Without preoperative radiotherapy 36.7% survived for 3 years and 33.4% for 5 years, with preoperative radiation 56.7% for 3 years and 50% for 5 years.