Is acute pancreatitis a contraindication to radiotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer?
Does treatment of the pancreas with radiotherapy during an episode of acute pancreatitis increase the risk of acute and late side effects? Should one wait for resolution of pancreatitis before initiating radiotherapy?
2 Answers
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Answered on
No, it is not a contraindication to the use of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy has been used in the very distant past to treat acute pancreatitis. If anything radiotherapy will help reduce the inflammation.
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Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · Yale School of Medicine
Answered on
I would agree with @Dr. First Last. While it may be more difficult to get a patient through treatment if they are symptomatic from their acute pancreatitis, the side effects of radiation are not greatly increased in this setting. I would work on symptomatic optimization of the acute pancreatitis, bu...
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