| pubmed-article:6841985 | pubmed:abstractText | In the light of their experience involving 178 patients suffering from carcinoma of the bladder and a study of the literature, the authors attempt to determine the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the bladder. A number of points emerge: --the possibility of stopping the progression of a recurrent multifocal superficial malignant tumour by 2 flashes of 6.5 Gy; --the efficacy of curative doses of radiotherapy associated with transurethral resection of the tumour in 20% of cases. These figures rise to 50% in anaplastic carcinomas. 20% efficacy of radiotherapy alone without surgery is a high figure. It tends to restore the radiotherapy sensitivity test suggested by R. Couvelaire to its true value; --when combined with excision surgery (partial cystectomy or total prostato-cystectomy), high doses of radiation do not give a better result than limited radiation. In view of the gravity of radiotherapy complications which may occur in up to 20% of cases where high doses of radiation have been administered, the authors would be inclined to limit radiotherapy when treatment of the tumour must be mixed, with surgery. A preoperative flash of 6.5 Gy followed by postoperative radiotherapy up to a total of 45 Gy when partial cystectomy is used. When a decision is made to perform cutaneous implantation of the ureters, the technique should consist of concentrated radiotherapy of 20 Gy in one week followed by excision by total prostato-cystectomy the next week. When urinary bypass is to involve uretero-colonic implantation or bladder replacement, flash radiotherapy of 6.5 Gy once or twice. No additional postoperative radiotherapy. Sandwich radiotherapy is too dangerous. | lld:pubmed |
