Value of megavolt therapy in gastric carcinoma

45 cases of carcinoma of the stomach were treated with megavolt irradiation in the Radiotherapy Clinic of Turku University Central Hospital and in the Radiotherapy Department of the Central Hospital in Jyvâskylâ. 41 of the patients had histological or cytological verification of the tumour, 4 only an X-ray diagnosis. One-year survival of patients with local inoperable tumour was 10 out of 19, two-year survival 5 out of 19 and three-year survival 3 out of 19. Relief of symptoms was obtained in 6 cases out of 19 for one year, for two years in 4 cases out of 19, and for three years, in 3 cases. It is suggested that local inoperable carcinomas of the stomach should be treated by 5 000 rads. One-year survival of patients presenting with abdominal metastases was only 2 out of 26 and the two-year survival 1 out of 26. It appears that radiotherapy of carcinoma of the stomach, which already has metastases, is not indicated.