The X-ray Treatment of some Uncommon Tumours

Abstract

Twenty unselected cases of bone sarcoma are reported to show the immediate results of modern high-voltage X-ray therapy. Marked improvement in the general condition of the patient, together with reduction in size of the tumour and relief of local symptoms, occurred in eight cases. Biopsy of the sarcoma to establish its pathological nature is essential, either before the commencement of X-ray therapy, or within the first few days of such treatment. X-ray therapy of operable osteogenic sarcoma is not yet justified, but may improve the surgical results when applied after operation to the stump and to the thorax. For certain round-celled sarcomata, especially the rare plasmocytoma, X-ray therapy is probably the treatment of choice; while in inoperable sarcomata of all types, temporary alleviation is not infrequently obtained. My thanks are due to the Cancer Research Committee of St. Bartholomew's Hospital for permission to publish these cases, and to the various members of the honorary staff of the hospital under whose care they have been.