Intraoperative radiation therapy and hyperthermia. Morbidity and mortality from this combined treatment modality for unresectable intra-abdominal carcinomas

T. A. Colacchio, C. Coughlin, J. Taylor, E. Douple, T. Ryan and R. W. Crichlow
Department of Surgery, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 08755.

This is a report of a phase I trial of intraoperative radiation therapy in combination with intraoperative hyperthermia for the treatment of locally advanced, unresectable intra-abdominal carcinomas. Using an ultrasound transducer system specifically designed for intraoperative applications, 19 patients have been successfully treated, demonstrating the feasibility of this combination modality. The morbidity (58%) and mortality (11%) rates reported in this series are comparable to rates reported in series of similar patients receiving intraoperative radiation therapy alone. There is still a great need for considerable technological development to enable the use of intraoperative hyperthermia to treat large, complexly shaped intra-abdominal tumors, and phase II and III trials of this combination treatment modality should be performed.