[Successful treatment of a localised pancreatic cancer with radiotherapy alone: a case report]

Abstract

Aim: To present a unique case of an early (T1N0M0) adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas, which was successfully treated with radiotherapy alone.

Material and method: After the computer tomography operated histological verification the combination of interstitial high dose rate after-loading brachytherapy (18 Gy, 6 Gy/die) and percutan irradiation (46 Gy) was applied.

Result: Fifty-two months after completion of the treatment the patient is alive with no evidence of disease.

Conclusion: The combination of these therapeutic modalities may be an effective tool to deliver curative dose without any significant sequelae in the treatment of operable pancreatic carcinoma, when the patient's condition contraindicates surgery.