Telecobaltoterapia Dei Tumori Vescicali: Considerazioni Pratiche

Abstract

The various radiotherapeutical techniques employed in the cancer of the urinary bladder are mentioned. Particular account is given to the telecobaltotherapy and the experience made at the Cancer Institute of Milan during the last 18 months is reported. The need for the radiotherapist of a careful evaluation of the morbid process is emphasized, especially with concern to the degree of the wall infiltration, and to the extravesical spreading; therefore, urographic, cystographic and peripneumocystographic examinations are advised besides the clinical, cystoscopical and laboratory investigations. The telecobaltotherapy of the vesical cancer is essentially based upon two irradiation techniques. In the cases with spreading of the tumour beyond the organ wall, stationary field therapy is employed, with a palliative scope; the focus dosis does not overcome the 4,500 r. On the other hand, in cases in which the tumour is supposed to be contained within the bladder wall, a wide (280°) pendulum therapy is preferred, which allows the concentration of a high dose (6,000 r about) on the region including the empty urinary bladder and the pericystium.