Pain relief with short-term irradiation in locally advanced carcinoma of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether a short radiation treatment (30 Gy, 3.0 Gy/fraction) had analgesic efficacy in patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODS

Twelve patients were included in this analysis. Before starting and at four weeks after radiation therapy, pain intensity was evaluated and analgesic drug therapy was adjusted until a 0-3 pain score was reached (WHO).

RESULTS

No radiotherapy interruptions, no hospitalisation due to toxic reactions, and no severe toxicity were observed. Six patients (50%) had pain control without pharmacological therapy, three patients (25%) reduced their use (35%-72%) of analgesics, while in the remaining three patients (25%) there was no change in analgesic use. Overall, mean reduction in the use of analgesics was 63.1% +/- 43.8%. During follow-up (44 months), two patients (16.7%) showed a worsening of pain that required increased analgesia; in one patient, percutaneous splanchnicectomy was necessary.

CONCLUSION

In patients excluded from standard concomitant chemoradiation, hypofractionated-accelerated radiotherapy is feasible and results in pain relief in most patients, documented as a reduced need for analgesics.