[Intraoperative radiotherapy in Germany]

Abstract

Background: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) represents an attractive method for local tumour control after surgical resection. IORT was introduced into multimodal treatment protocols in the 1980s. Aim of this study was to analyse the actual clinical and scientific activity of IORT in Germany.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 102 centres in Germany. The analysis was focussed on indications in general surgery including bone tumours to evaluate the activity of IORT. The literature was analysed by a medline search for the years 1975 to 2001.

Results: Questionnaires were answered by 92% of the centres. 24 departments are working with IORT in Germany (16 of them are university hospitals). Main Indications for IORT treatment are rectum carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Furthermore, IORT is used in patients suffering from gastric, pancreatic and bile duct malignancies. Some IORT programs are also targeting on patients with head and neck malignancies and brain tumours. German institutions published within the last 5 years about 14% of all " Medline"-listed publications concerning IORT.

Conclusion: There is an profound activity of IORT in Germany, which is concentrated on a few centres. A need for better national and international cooperation of centres performing IORT for clinical trials and to collect significant numbers of patients seems to be evident.