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Radiation Oncology • Gastrointestinal Cancers
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?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
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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Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
I would agree with @Christopher H. Crane. 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 pancreatit...