Palliative irradiation for liver metastases
M. Turek-Maischeider and I. Kazem
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.
