Radiation treatment of endocrine tumors

Abstract

Radiation therapy (RT) is an integral component of the multidisciplinary management of a variety of endocrine neoplasia. Typical indications include unresectable or recurrent, benign or malignant tumors of the pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid glands. Typical doses administered over 5-7 weeks for benign tumors and malignant tumors are 45-50 Gy and 60-70 Gy, respectively. RT techniques employed in these treatments include 3D conformal, intensity modulated, stereotactic, and proton radiotherapy. RT is also beneficial in palliating bone metastases and preventing recurrence after complete resection of high-risk thyroid or parathyroid cancers, with adjacent organ invasion, nodal metastases and/or positive resection margins. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.